Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal has affirmed the re-election of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike following the dismissal of the petition filed by the defeated African Action Congress (AAC) Governorship Candidate, Biokpomabo Awara seeking the nullification of the March 9, Rivers State Governorship Election.
Also on Saturday, the Tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the defeated Action Democratic Party (ADP) Governorship Candidate, Mr. Victor Fingesi against the election of Governor Wike.
“We affirm the election of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as duly conducted “, the Tribunal declared.
The Tribunal declared that both petitioners failed to prove their petitions beyond reasonable doubt. The Tribunal stressed that they failed to adduce evidence to prove that the election was marred by violence and irregularities.
The judgment of the Tribunal in the AAC Petition was read by Justice K. B. Olawoyin.
The Tribunal declared that Governor Wike won 19 out of the 21 Local Government Areas where elections held, while the petitioner won in two Local Government Areas.
The Tribunal said the petitioner failed to call any witness to give credible evidence that there were Malpractices during the election that favoured Governor Wike.
The Tribunal also held that the first petitioner can no longer lead any general and nebulous evidence on violence.
The Tribunal declared that what was suspended was the Collation of results for 6 Local Government Areas. They declared that as at the time of the suspension of Collation, INEC had concluded Collation of results in 17 Local Government Areas.
The Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal stated that by participating in the Collation Process, the petitioner waived his right to complain.
The Tribunal said that the petitioner called 20 witnesses. The Tribunal said it had earlier struck out the evidence of two witnesses.
The Tribunal ruled that the results tendered by the petitioner, Awara Biokpomabo while giving evidence were inadmissible and therefore expunged from the records.