…. AAC says Awara’s petition, an embarrassment
Awara Biokpomabo, the candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the March 9th governorship election in Rivers State has vowed to appeal the judgement of the election petition tribunal which affirmed Governor Nyesom Wike’s re-election.
Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin who delivered the judgement, dismissed the petition in its entirety on the ground that the 1st petitioner was not able to prove beyond reasonable doubt any of the petition.
The Judge expunged the evidence tendered by the 1st petitioner, Awara Biokpomabo, on grounds that they are not makers of the result sheets, and that the said result sheets do not correspond with the result sheets tendered by INEC before the tribunal, either do they have INEC stamps or signatures of INEC officials.
Justice Olawoyin also expunged all the 1st petitioner’s Witnesses’ evidence as they are not admissible and certified by the tribunal.
He stressed that only INEC has the power to declare winners in an election.
The Judge further ruled that INEC has the power to suspend electoral processes in case of an emergency situation, while affirming that the 2nd Respondent, Governor Nyesom Wike is the winner of the March 9th Governorship Election as declared by INEC.
Justice Olawoyin awarded the sum of three hundred thousand (300,000) naira each to Respondent in the matter, to be paid by the 1st Respondent Awara Biokpomabo.
But Emenike Nbete, Counsel to the 1st petitioner, told our correspondent, Tina Amanda that the judgement is a victory for the 1st petitioner Awara Biokpomabo as they were given the opportunity for the petition to be heard on merit.
He stressed that they will appeal the judgement as some issues in the petition were not addressed by tribunal.
Henry Bello, Counsel to the second petitioner, AAC, said the petition filed by the 1st petitioner is an embarrassment to the AAC as the Party did not encourage Awara to file the petition.
He stressed that AAC as a Party stands for the truth, stressing that the party did not win the March 9th Governorship Election in Rivers State as they only won two (2) local government areas.
He also encouraged politicians to always say and stand by the truth, adding that election should not be won based on falsehood.
Also, Ferdinand Orbih, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Counsel to the 2nd Respondent, Governor Nyesom Wike, said the tribunal has proven that the petition has no basis in law.
