The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Rivers State Governor NYESOM WIKE, challenging the jurisdiction of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal.
A five-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice JOHN FABIYI ruled that the appeal by Governor WIKE lacked merit.
The apex court justices also held that the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal was properly constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal in view of evidence of violence in Rivers State.
The panel declared that the tribunal is competent to hear the petition filed by the APC and its candidate, DAKUKU PETERSIDE.
The Supreme Court judgment, which was endorsed by all members of the panel, harped on the fact that the relocation of the tribunal was necessitated by inherent violence in Rivers State because of minimal guarantee of security.
The Apex Court Judges also held that the President of the Court of Appeal acted in good faith to ensure the safety of the tribunal members.
The Supreme Court panel dismissed the argument advanced by Governor WIKE that the Chief Judge of Rivers State was not consulted; stressing that such individual was nonexistent at the time when the decision was taken to relocate the Tribunal.
