No Rest For The Wike, As Tribunal Sacks 20 Rivers Lawmakers

The Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Rivers State Speaker, Owaji Ibani and 20 other lawmakers in the Rivers State House of assembly.

The four tribunals, in separate judgments yesterday, upheld the petitions by the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the election and ordered rerun in the affected constituencies.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House, who are affected by the tribunals’ verdicts, include the Speaker Owaji Ibani from Andoni constituency.

Yesterday, the tribunals upheld the petitioners’ evidence, particularly in relation to allegations of irregularities and violence among other electoral malpractices.

The tribunals were of the view that the petitioners were, by the evidence led, able to prove their case.

By yesterday’s development, the PDP is now left with just 11 seats in the House. There was only one member of the APC in the House.

The affected lawmakers are, under the Electoral Act, entitled, within 21 days, to challenge the nullification of the elections at the appellate court.

The affected constituencies are GOKANA, ELEME, OBIO AKPOR 1 and 2, Etche 2, Opobo/Nkoro and AKUKUTORU 2.

Others are ASARI TORU 1 and 2, BONNY, Tai, ONELGA 1, DEGEMA, AHOADA East -1, KHANA-1 and 2 ,Ikwerre, PHALGA-2, ANDONI.

The trbunals upheld elections in 11 constituencies won by the PDP. They are Oyigbo, Etche 1, Omuma, Ogu-Bolo, PHALGA 1 and 3,ONELG 2, ABUA-Odual, AHOADA West, Ahoada East 2 and EMUOHA.

The petition challenging the election in Okrika constituency, where the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan hails from, was earlier dismissed.

Recall that the tribunal had at the weekend, sacked Nyesom Wike as the governor of the state and ordered that a rerun be conducted. After the tribunal’s verdict, Wike made it known that that he will appeal the judgment.