Rivers Tribunal verdict: Wike to appeal judgment, faults ruling

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has vowed to appeal the tribunal verdict that nullified his election as Rivers State governor.

The lawyer representing Wike’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, disclosed this shortly after Justice Suleiman Ambrosa’s judgment on Saturday.

DAILY POST reports that Wike’s election was nullified by the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal, which ordered a fresh poll.

Addressing journalists after the judgment, counsel to the PDP, Chris Uche said Mr. Wike remained governor until the appeal processes were exhausted.

He said the judgment delivered by Justice Ambrosa-led Tribunal must be tested in the interest of justice.

Uche said the tribunal’s reliance on card reader accreditation to nullify the governorship election, when the respondents and the petitioners confirmed that both card reader and manual accreditation were used for the election, required an appeal.

He said it was surprising that less than 24 hours after lawyers on all sides submitted nine written addresses and documents, the Tribunal sent notice that judgment would be delivered on Saturday morning.

Gov. Nyesom Wike

The lawyer said the tribunal was aware that the Supreme Court judgment on the jurisdiction of the tribunal outside of Rivers State would be delivered on Tuesday.

He lamented that the tribunal had 7 days to deliver its judgment, but chose to do so in less than two days.

DailyPost