Why The Tribunal Sacked Governor Nyesom Wike

               

There was anxiety and palpable calmness in Rivers State on Saturday, following the nullification of the April 11 governorship election by the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

Apart from nullifying the election, the tribunal also ordered the INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days but the PDP has vowed to challenge the judgement at the Court of Appeal. Wike too has insisted that he remains the state governor.

When news of the nullification filtered into the state, supporters of the APC went into jubilation.

Jubilation was seen at APC secretariat located in William Jumbo in Port Harcourt, Mgbuoshimiri area, in Obio/Akpor and some other places by members of the APC.

Many APC members said they foresaw the ruling of the tribunal, because it was clear that election did not take place in the state.

But there was calm around the township area of the metropolis, due to the heavy presence of heavily armed security operatives who were strategically positioned to quell any attempt to disrupt public peace.

A truck load of policemen was stationed in front of the NYSC secretariat along Ikwerre Road; opposite Government House and at Station Bus Stop, in the Port Harcourt metropolis.

Heavily armed policemen in operational vehicles were stationed at the front of most public buildings.

Some persons who spoke on the outcome of the tribunal’s verdict said they are looking forward to having a smooth re-run election in the next 90 days.

The All Progressive Congress and its governorship candidate, Dr Peterside Dakuku, had approached the Tribunal challenging the election on ground that it was marred by several irregularities. Joined as respondents in the petition were Wike, PDP and INEC.

In its judgement that lasted for about three hours, the three-man panel headed by Justice Suleiman Ambursa, held ‎ that the said election made mockery of democracy.

The tribunal further held that Wike was wrongly declared winner because of non compliance with Electoral process and added that thugs overran the state during the election.

The tribunal also held that ‎the allegation of intimidation, harassment, snatching of ballot boxes, ballot papers, lack of result sheet, late arrival of election materials, diversion of election materials, ballot stuffing, allocation of figures, non collation of result, failure to use card readers were all established by the petitioner stressing that the petitioner produced credible evidence and documents to prove his allegation.

“The witnesses called by the respondent became unreliable during cross examination. They betrayed their character. Even INEC officials who came as witnesses at a point claimed ignorance of their own document. The second respondent (Nyesome Wike) was not duly elected”, the tribunal held.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the PDP, Mr. Chris Uche SAN said that the party will test the judgment at the Court of Appeal and possibly, the Supreme Court.

“It was wrong of the tribunal to lay heavy weather on the use of card reader when INEC itself admitted that both card reader and manual can be used where there are challenges”, he stated.

In his own reaction, APC candidate Dakuku said the Rivers people are happy with judgment and that it has given them an opportunity to vote for who they want.

Despite his sack by the Rivers Election Petition Tribunal, Wike spoke to newsmen shortly after returning from Abuja, along with Prince Uche Secondus, Acting National Chairman of the PDP.

He said his lawyers were already preparing papers to go on appeal, ‎pointing out that he has a good case.

The governor said, “Let me on behalf of the deputy governor and the party chairman thank all of you for the support you have given to us. We have come back from Abuja with the national chairman and other leaders of the party, who were at Abuja with us for this period,” he said.

Meanwhile, the APC has described the judgement as a deadly body blow to impunity and hooliganism.