Supreme Court Upholds Governor Wike's Mandate

   

The Supreme Court of Nigeria today deliver a judgement that upheld the election of Rivers state Governor,Nyesome Wike. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun who read the judgement set aside the earlier ruling of the election Tribunal and the Appeal court judgement,she held that the appeal file by Governor Wike was meritorious.adding that the court will give reasons for the judgement Feb 12.

She held, “I find and hold that this appeal is meritorious and it is allowed. The judgement of the lower court delivered on the 16th of November 2015 and the judgment of the tribunal delivered on 24th October 2015 are hereby set aside.

“The petition of the petitioners is dismissed. The return of Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State by the Independent National Electoral Commission is restored.”

Other Judges,Justices Mohammed, Ibrahim Mohammed Sylvester Ngwuta, Kumai Akaahs and Amiru Sanusi, who were members of the panel agreed with Kekere-Ekun’s lead judgment.

Dakuku Peterside the APC candidate and his party had filed a petition before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge Wike’s return by INEC as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state.
The tribunal, which sat in Abuja held, in its judgment of October 24, 2015, in favour of the petitioners, voided the election on grounds of widespread violence and non-compliance with the Electoral Act,and It ordered a rerun election within 90 days.