Dakuku and Wike: Dakuku laughs last

The Rivers State Governorship election Tribunal has nullified the election conducted on 11 April 2015, which returned Governor Nyesom Wike as the winner.

The tribunal sitting in Abuja, the Federal capital, gave the verdict this morning and ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.

TVC Entertainment tweeted the verdict of the court:

Breaking: Tribunal nullifies Rivers State governorship election

— TVC Entertainment (@TVC_Ent) October 24, 2015

Dakuku Peterside of the APC had gone to court to challenge the result, alleging widespread electoral malpractices.

The Tribunal is led by Justice Mohammed Ambursa and has been sitting in Abuja.

In the judgment, which was read by Ambursa for about three hours, the tribunal held that the petitioners successfully proved their case that the election was conducted in total disregard to electoral guidelines.

Specifically, Ambursa said that the process of accreditation for the election was compromised with the use of incident forms rather than adherence to card reader.

“It is the view of the tribunal that the election was held contrary to guidelines.

“While we agree with the second respondent’s (Wike) position that card reader was just introduced, but the usage of the card reader is to complement voter register.

“The election was in total disregard to guidelines, the issue of accreditation in election cannot be compromised.

“Even, some of the witnesses of the respondents said they were not aware of the use of card reader for the election,’’ he said.

Ambursa said the tribunal also hinged its decision to annul the election on contradictory position by the second and third respondents (Wike and PDP).

According to him, some figures given by the witnesses of Wike contradicted the figures presented in the documents tendered by PDP while defending the case.

Ambursa also said that the tribunal was not impressed with the way the witnesses of the respondents presented themselves during cross examination by the petitioners.

Ambursa said some of the witnesses of the respondents, who had written their evidence and tendered them before the tribunal, claimed that they could not read when they were confronted with INEC results sheets during cross examination.

“We are in agreement with the petitioners that the evidences presented by the respondents were unreliable.

“The respondents on their part were unable to defend the allegations in the petition.

“The petitioners have proved their case as required by the law that the second respondent was not validly elected ,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Counsel to the PDP, Chris Uche, (SAN) has said that the decision of the tribunal was “unacceptable’’ and it would lodge an appeal.

Uche, who spoke to newsmen after the judgment, said by the provision of the law, the decision of the tribunal notwithstanding, the governor would remain in office pending the decision of the appeal court and the Supreme Court on the matter.

On his part, Mr Sikiru Oke, who spoke on behalf of Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi SAN, the lead counsel to APC and Peterside, said the tribunal had done justice by its decision.

The exchange of addresses by counsel to the petitioners—Peterside and the APC—as well as the respondents—Wike, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—took place on Thursday, with the tribunal adjourning indefinitely for judgment.

But yesterday the tribunal informed counsels that it was ready with its judgement.

Some international observers and other stakeholders who monitored the April 11 governorship election in Rivers State, as well as eminent personalities who testified before the tribunal had described the poll as a sham, saying that it was characterised by violence, massive rigging, intimidation of voters and snatching of ballot boxes.

*Updated at 21.00 Hours