Tina Amanda
The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by the Governorship candidate of the African Action Congress Party, AAC, Biokpomabo Awara, challenging the Victory of Governor Nyesom Wike in the March 9 governorship 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, paragraphs in his petition.
The Judge expunged the evidences tendered by the 1st petitioner Awara Biokpomabo on the ground that they are not makers of the result sheets.
The tribunal ruled that the said result sheets do not correspond with the result sheets tendered by INEC before the tribunal, and equally have no INEC stamps or signatures of INEC officials.
Justice Olawoyin also expunged all the first petitioner’s Witnesses’ evidences as they are not admissible and certified by the tribunal.
The tribunal stressed that only INEC has the power to declare winners in any election.
The Judge further ruled that INEC has the power to suspend electoral processes in case of any emergency situation.
He also affirmed 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 the Respondent in matter, to be paid by the 1st Respondent Awara Biokpomabo.
Details later.
