Wike Storms Court As Rivers Tribunal Reserves Judgment in Petition Against Fubara’s Election Victory

• The election victory of Governor Siminalayi Fubara is still being contested in the Rivers election tribunal
• APC candidate, Tonye Cole has refused to come to terms with the fact that INEC declared Fubara the winner of the March 18 gubernatorial poll in the state
• In Wednesday's court session, the tribunal reserved its judgement and adjourned the case after the parties submitted their final written addresses

FCT, Abuja - The Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has reserved judgment on the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Cole against Governor Siminalayi Fubara's election victory.

Cole is challenging the victory of Fubara, a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday, March 18 governorship election.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Cletus Emifonye, on Wednesday, September 13, adjourned the matter for judgment, after the parties adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments for and against the petition, Channels TV reported.

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Tribunal sacks Labour Party lawmaker, gives INEC fresh directive

Wike was present in court

Aside from Cole, the immediate past governor of River State and minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was present in court for the day’s proceeding, The Nation report added.

However, Wike refused to speak to journalists about the outcome of the day’s proceedings.

Cole had called over 40 witnesses to support his claim that Fubara was not qualified at the time of the election to run for Rivers State governor.

Tribunal sacks Labour Party lawmaker in Enugu

In another report, the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu State, on Wednesday, September 13, voided the declaration of Honourable Bright Ngene of the Labour Party as the House of Assembly member representing Enugu South urban constituency.

In voiding the election, the three-man panel headed by A. M. Abubakar ordered a rerun election in the Enugu South Urban constituency within 90 days.

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The tribunal in its ruling said it was based on the grounds that the number of votes credited to the said winner of the election, was fewer than the number of disenfranchised voters in the constituency.

Wike makes revelation on Amaechi, Tonye Cole, APC's loss

In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that the immediate past governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, revealed why the APC lost the chance to claim the governorship seat in the March gubernatorial election in the state.

According to the Wike, the Rivers APC's internal division and rancour are responsible for the party's defeat.

Source: Legit.ng