Tina Amanda
The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed the petition filed by the Action Democratic Party, ADP, and its Governorship candidate, Victor Fingesi, against INEC, PDP Governor Nyesom Wike.
Fingesi, and ADP in the petition, challenged the electoral processes that returned Governor Wike as Governor in March 9 election.
Delivering judgement, the three-man panel led by Justice Kingsley Ojiako, ruled that the petitioners failed woefully to prove that the 2nd Respondent, Governor Nyesom Wike, did not score the highest lawful votes.
The panel stressed that the petitioners failed to tender evidences of result sheets from polling units and wards to establish their claims, but instead relied on result sheets tendered by the Respondents.
Justice Ojiako ruled that the petitioners lacked the locus standi to file and maintain the petition, as facts contained in the paragraphs of the petition are inconsistent with each other.
The panel ruled that the petitioners failed woefully to prove beyond reasonable doubt the election was marred by wide spread Violence and corrupt practices.
Justice Ojiako also dismissed the witnesses testimonies of collation agents from Ahoada West, Abua Odua, Etche, Andoni, Khana, Omuma, Port Harcourt City, Bonny, ONELGA, Okrika, Ogubolo, Degema, Tai and Ikwerre local government areas for lack of credible evidence.
Justice Ojiako dismissed the petition for lacking in merit and ordered the petitioners to pay the sum of three hundred thousand (300,000) naira each to the Respondents in the matter.
Dolapo Tella-Attoni, Counsel to the petitioners, told our correspondent, Tina Amanda, that they are dissatisfied with the judgement, as he awaits further instructions from his client whether to appeal the judgement.
On his part, Ferdinand Orbih, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Counsel to the 2nd Respondent, Governor Nyesom Wike, said the judgement has finally proven the mandate given to Governor Wike by Rivers people.
