SAN FRANCISCO, October 27, (THEWILL) – The founding partner/Head Litigation at Edward & William Law Firm, Achinike Godwin William-Wobodo, Tuesday in Port Harcourt, said last Saturday’s ruling of the River State Governorship Election Tribunal which sacked Governor Nyesom Wike, has been vindicated by the State House of Assembly Panels raised to look into petitions arising from the nullified election.
In a statement made available to THEWILL, William-Wobodo said “out of the 31 State Constituencies challenged by the APC and which were considered by various Assembly panels on the merit, APC successfully moved the Election Tribunal (different panels) based on credible and overwhelming evidence to nullify Elections in 19 constituencies at First Instance.”
He listed one of the constituencies to include Okrika, which, according to him, was not considered on merit, saying “it was struck out by the court inadvertently, and the motion for reinstatement was not allowed.”
According to him, “That decision is on Appeal at the Court Appeal and may be caught up by 180 days limitation. The only seat (Eleme) that was won by APC in that election, which was challenged by the PDP, was upheld by the Election Tribunal.
These were different panels that considered petitions of several persons separately yet they reaffirmed, at the first instance, that elections in 19 constituencies (i.e. in 16 LGAs out of 23) did not comply substantially with the Electoral Act and Guidelines.
“Of the other constituencies, one of the panels relied mainly on pre-election matter, which the Court Appeal had ruled on and clearly held that the APC gave INEC more than 60 days pre-primary notice contrary to PDP’s claim that it was less than 21 days.
“ When the Court of Appeals considers APC’s appeals, it is clear that APC would win another six constituencies (four additional LGAs) which were dismissed on this ground. Of course these would bring election in 20 LGAs to a nullity, leaving only Omuma, Emohua and Okrika. Recall that no results were declared by INEC for Omuma and Emohua. That leaves only Okrika standing.”
William-Wobodo said the implication of this is that different panels sat over Rivers State Elections and they variously nullified a total of 22 LGA out of the 23 LGAs in the State, except Okrika, asking “Have they not vindicated Hon. Justice Ambrosa in his judgment?”
