Election tribunal sacks Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike and orders fresh polls

RIVERS State governor Nyesom Wike is out of a job after the election ‎petition tribunal sitting in Abuja nullified his election and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to conduct fresh polls.

 

Delivering its verdict a few minutes ago, the tribunal upheld a petition challenging the election of Governor Wike filed by Dakuku Peterside, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the last elections.  In his petition, Mr Peterside has alleged that the elections were marred by fraud, rigging and violence.

 

His claims were back by reports from international and domestic election observer who claimed they witnessed the largest amount of violence both in its build-up and after the elections. While the elections were by and large peaceful across the rest of Nigeria, Rivers and Akwa Ibom State witnessed a lot of thuggery and political violence, with ballot boxes being snatched and polling stations sealed off.

 

Delivering its verdict, the election tribunal ruled that it was not impressed with the character of all the defence witnesses, who failed to read out documents presented by the petitioners during cross examination. Hon Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani, the speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly will now be sworn in as acting governor pending the elections of a new governor once Inec has organised fresh polls.