• Wike
The governorship election petition Tribunal in Rivers State this afternoon nullified the election of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nyesom Wike.
The Tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh poll within 90 days of the judgement.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dakuku Peterside had filed a petition against the election of Governor Nyesom Wike.
The three-member panel which sat in Abuja for security reasons, orderd INEC to conduct fresh elections.
The presiding judge reviewed the witnesses and stated that Peterside/APC called 56 witnesses and of the respondents: INEC-16; Wike-24; PDP-none.
The panel stated that the petitioners submitted three issues for determination.
INEC had argued that the petitioners failed to prove their case polling unit by polling unit in line with Supreme Court earlier decisions.
As stated by the panel, Governor Wike’s final written address on the petition is dated October 14.
At about 10:55am today, the Tribunal reviewed Mr. Wike’s second major argument. Governor Wike’s first major argument is that most of the petitioners’ witnesses gave hearsay evidence, according to the tribunal. Governor Wike’s other major arguments, according to the tribunal, include: Petitioners are required to prove polling unit by polling unit but they only called few polling unit agents. Non-usage of card reader cannot be grounds for nullifying election.
Mr. Wike argued that the election was free and fair and he was duly returned governor. He asked the tribunal to strike out the petition.
The tribunal, however, stated that PDP’s final address was on October 16.
The PDP argued that the Petitioners leveled allegations of crime against the military which was not joined as a party.
The tribunal then adopted only one issue for determination – whether or not the petitioners have proved their case.
The Tribunal dismissed preliminary issues concerning the competence of the tribunal raised by the respondents. It dwelt on its sole issue for determination
It restated the petitioners’ allegations inculding poll being marred by intimidation of voters, non-availability of result sheets, snatching of electoral materials, non-collation of results at wards and LG levels etc.
The Tribunal stated that the evidence of the petitioners’ witnesses is relevant and reliable. It also stated that INEC has the power to insist on card readers. It is not open to anybody to act otherwise.
The voters, Mr. Wike’s witnesses, dodged questions under cross-examination and refused to answer questions on documents the petitioners confronted them with, the tribunal states
"We are in agreement that the evidence of the witnesses of Wike and INEC is incredible and unreliable," the Tribunal stated.
"We are satisfied that the petitioners have proved their case."