By Tina Amanda
The Rivers State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal has commenced hearings on petitions filed by aggrieved political parties challenging the victories of certain elected council chairmen.
In a session presided over by Chief Magistrate Betty Sunny-Hart, who heads the third election petition tribunal panel, a motion ex parte was granted to Kenneth Alee-Kpea, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chairmanship Candidate for Gokana Local Government Area.
The motion permits the inspection of ballot papers and result sheets used in Ward 10 of the area, the petitioner has been directed to inspect the ballot materials from 17 polling units within three days. The tribunal has adjourned further hearing to November 5, 2024.
Alee-Kpea and the SDP are contesting the victory of Princewill Dumbor-Tomii of the Action People’s Party (APP), as declared by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
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In a separate sitting, another panel, led by Chief Magistrate Menenen Poromon, granted a similar motion to the Action Alliance (AA) and its Chairmanship Candidate for Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Okechukwu Victor-Amadi.
The tribunal directed the petitioners to inspect electoral materials used in the local government election. The panel also instructed the petitioners to serve the defendants, including the APP, the council chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo, and RSIEC, with the order, the case was also adjourned to November 5, 2024.
Victor-Amadi and the AA are disputing the victory of Ihunwo, as announced by RSIEC on October 5, 2024.
According to the correspondent, five political parties and their chairmanship candidates have filed petitions challenging the election outcomes in local government areas, including Obio Akpor, Emohua, Gokana, and Phalga.
