The Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Governor NYESOM WIKE on 11th of April this year.
The Tribunal chaired by Justice SULEIMAN AMBROSSA also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct fresh governorship election in Rivers State within ninety days.
In a ruling that lasted about two hours; the Tribunal held that the conduct of the governorship election on 11th of April was not in compliance with the regulations of INEC.
The Tribunal ruled that the directive by INEC on the use of Smart Card Readers for the accreditation of voters was deliberately defied in the conduct of the election in Rivers State.
The panel of judges said the respondents cannot run away from documents presented by the petitioners in support of their case.
It went on to declare that the petitioners’ witnesses testified truthfully without any falsehood in their demeanour.
It however questioned defence witnesses who read their witness deposition in court but could not read documented evidence presented to the court.
Based on the observation, the Tribunal said it was impressed with the character of the defence witnesses, while also questioning the credibility of a national commissioner of INEC who testified in support of the respondents.
The panel of judges questioned the INEC Commissioner who monitored elections in Rivers State but failed to read INEC evidence presented before the tribunal.
Our Abuja correspondent JAMES IGAH reports that the judgment of the tribunal was greeted with jubilation by APC supporters who gathered around the vicinity of the Federal Capital City High Court Complex in Apo area of Abuja.
PDP supporters, who were also at the court, responded to the judgment with chants of slogans as a mark of courage in defeat.
In his reaction to the ruling, Rivers State Chairman of the APC, Chief DAVIES IBIAMU-IKANYA.
On his part; counsel to the PDP, Chief CHRIS UCHE who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, faulted the judgment on several grounds, which he said would be tested on appeal.
He faulted the reliance on card reader accreditation for the nullification of the Rivers State governorship election even when evidence abound to show that electronic and manual accreditation were used.
On his part the South South National Vice Chairman of the PDP CAIRO OJOUGBO accused the DSS of interfering in the tribunal cases.
