I Remain The ‘Duly Elected Governor’, Says Wike As Appeal Court Backs Fresh Poll

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike lifting aloft the "Certificate of Return" INEC presented to him. (Image source: TheCable)

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has opposed the ruling of the appeal court which ordered his removal from office, insisting that he was duly elected. Wike called on his supporters to remain calm, disclosing that he has instructed his lawyers to appeal the judgment at Supreme Court.

TheCable report continues:

The appellate court had upheld the verdict of the tribunal, which nullified his victory and ordered fresh election within 90 days.

But in a statement issued on his behalf by Simeon Nwakaudu, his special assistant on electronic media, Wike said he will “use all constitutional processes to protect the mandate the people freely bestowed on him”.

“The Rivers state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has instructed his lawyers to appeal today’s judgment of the court of appeal which ordered fresh governorship election in the state,” the statement read.

“Wike stated that he disagrees with the judgment, hence his decision to exhaust his constitutional right by challenging the appeal court  judgment  at the supreme court.

“Governor Wike has called on all his supporters and the people of Rivers state to remain calm as Justice will be done at the end of day.

“He assured  the  people  of  the  state  that he will use all constitutional processes to protect the  mandate they freely bestowed on him, hence his decision  to  approach the  Supreme Court for further adjudication.

“The governor  said  that he still remains  the  duly elected governor  of  Rivers state  pending the  determination  of  his appeal  by the Supreme Court.

“Governor Wike assured the people of Rivers state that all ongoing development  projects will continue  while his administration  will  continue  to  promote  the  security of lives and property  across  the  state.”

Wike Loses Again As Appeal Court Backs Fresh Poll

TheCable report that the Court of Appeal has struck out the appeal of Nyesom Wike seeking a dismissal of the judgment of the Rivers election petition tribunal which sacked him as governor of the state.

The appeal court, after dismissing all the seven issues of Wike’s appeal, upheld the decision of the tribunal and ordered that a fresh governorship election be held.

The five judges of the appellate court agreed on the lead judgment upholding the decision of the tribunal sacking Wike.

In October, the tribunal had held that Wike was not duly elected governor of Rivers‎ state.

It ruled that a fresh election be held in the state within 90 days.

But Wike appealed against the judgment, insisting that he was duly elected governor of the state‎.

He asked the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal, arguing that‎ the lower court failed to consider the evidence – that a proper election took place in Rivers state on April 11 - tendered before it.

Wike had previously gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunal, which sacked him.

His main argument at the apex court was that the tribunal should have sat in Rivers state and not in Abuja.
But the Supreme Court dismissed his suit for lacking in merit‎, ruling that the tribunal – owing to security reasons – was right to have relocated to Abuja to sit in judgment on the petition of Dakuku Peterside, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11 governorship election in Rivers state.