1. My dear people of Rivers State
It is with a profound sense of concern and responsibility
that I address you over the judgment of the Rivers State
Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on
Saturday, October 24, 2015, purportedly nullifying my
election and return as the duly and lawfully elected
Governor of our State.
2. We all know that on April 11, 2015, Rivers people in
their millions joined the rest of the country and
enthusiastically participated in electing their Governor
and members of the State House of Assembly.
3. Apart from the reported malfunctioning of the card
readers supplied by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), which placed no advantage on any of
the contestants, the election took place throughout the
State and was adjudged both by local and international
observers to be largely peaceful, transparent, free, fair
and credible.
4. Following the success of the election, I was returned as
duly and lawfully elected by the INEC, having satisfied all
the necessary legal requirements.
5. However,
following the
petitions by my
friend, the APC
gubernatorial
candidate and
his party, and
despite the
woeful failure of
the Petitioners
to discharge the
burden of proof
with respect to
their contradictory, wild and false allegations against the
conduct of the election, the State Governorship Election
Petition Tribunal nullified my election on the basis of
INEC’s alleged infraction of its administrative guidelines
on the use of card readers.
6. It is common knowledge that INEC’s card readers
malfunctioned throughout the country in the 2015 general
elections. It is also common knowledge that wherever the
card reader malfunctioned, manual accreditation, which is
the only process, recognized by the current Electoral Act,
was used to accredit voters all over the country.
7. So far I am not aware of any State where the election
was postponed as a result of failure of card readers.
Furthermore, the Court of Appeal in Agbaje v Ambode
clearly stated that the partial or non-use of card readers is
not the basis for the cancellation of an election.
8. Yet, against all legal odds and the grains of logic, the
Tribunal in its wisdom decided to accord undue legal
weight to the straw of statements around the use or non-
use of card readers to support its decision in the face of a
hopelessly bad case of the Petitioners.
9. As we all know, our judicial system is built on the
doctrine of hierarchy of courts in which lower courts are
bound by the decisions of courts higher in hierarchy on
the same or similar issues. It is therefore strange for the
Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal to arrive at a
decision that negates subsisting judgments of the Court of
Appeal or the Supreme Court.
10. Being an implacable believer in the majesty of our
judicial system as the last hope of the common man, I
have implicit confidence in the ability of the appellate
courts to correct the mistakes of the Tribunal and right the
wrong that has been done to our collective psyche and
aspiration.
11. Accordingly, I have since instructed my team of
lawyers to immediately commence the appeal process
and have the decision of the Rivers State Governorship
Election Petition Tribunal upturned for good.
12. At this point, I appeal to all our supporters across the
state and beyond to remain calm and go about their
legitimate duties in a peaceful manner. There is no cause
for alarm.
13. By virtue of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, I am
still your Governor and will remain your Governor until
the exhaustive conclusion of the appeal process at the
Supreme Court.
14. Therefore, be assured that your mandate, which you
freely gave to the Peoples Democratic Party and my
humble self, is intact, safe and secure. God will not allow
your mandate to come to naught.
15. I wish to thank the people of Rivers State for the
unwavering support I have enjoyed from you since the
beginning of the struggle to this moment. I am highly
humbled with the show of solidarity from all and sundry
and in particular, the confidence in our ability to move the
State forward, and the overwhelming satisfaction with
what we are already doing as our government to
reposition the State.
16. I wish to further assure you that my team and I will
not be distracted by this minor irritation. We shall remain
focused on our vision and continue to deliver on our
fundamental promises on improving security, massive
development of infrastructure and socio-economic
empowerment in Rivers State.
17. Finally, be assured that by the special grace of God, we
shall ultimately prevail over our adversaries, retain our
mandate and return the glory to God Almighty our Maker
and Refuge.
18. Thank you and May God continue to bless Rivers State

www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/full-text-of-governor-wikes-state-broadcast-after-tribunal-ruling/

Yeah

Atangakpaniko ayineka.

Okay

Naija politicians and drama.

"he election took place throughout the
State and was adjudged both by local and international
observers to be largely peaceful, transparent, free, fair
and credible."


This wike can lie sha, what about all the killings from campaign time,(at least we watch how seun okinbaloye was lyeing down reportin under okiriika gun shots)...

No cause for alarm, if the mandate was given freely as you claimed it will be re-affirmed, when both of you meet at the polls to test your popularity. But if it was obtained by Abuja orderd millitary intimadation, sorry is your case oo. Cos power has changed hands and parade change gear. PMB won't allow millitary intimidation for any of the party, even peterside should note.

Man of d pple....wike we know

U will remain governor till the appeal has gone to supreme Court?
... . Oh my... . Thought u were a lawyer. ... All electoral case ends at the appeal court. .. . Only pre-election cases gets to the supreme Court... Mr laywer
... a thug can never rule rivers state.. .. .

AWONEYAN:
"he election took place throughout the
State and was adjudged both by local and international
observers to be largely peaceful, transparent, free, fair
and credible."


This wike can lie sha, what about all the killings from campaign time,(at least we watch how seun okinbaloye was lyeing down reportin under okiriika gun shots)...

No cause for alarm, if the mandate was given freely as you claimed it will be re-affirmed, when both of you meet at the polls to test your popularity. But if it was obtained by Abuja orderd millitary intimadation, sorry is your case oo. Cos power has changed hands and parade change gear. PMB won't allow millitary intimidation for any of the party, even peterside should note.

Why was the election in Lagos not nullified so that Ambode and Agbaje would test their popularity again? Cos d card readers also didn't work in Lagos? Is this the Change?

mrvitalis:
U will remain governor till the appeal has gone to supreme Court?
... . Oh my... . Thought u were a lawyer. ... All electoral case ends at the appeal court. .. . Only pre-election cases gets to the supreme Court... Mr laywer
... a thug can never rule rivers state.. .. .

You Yorubas are funny,you call a Governor that was voted for a thug,cos u dream of ur useless party to win? Rivers is PDP,We would vote for dis same Thug again.Lalasticala FP

"Furthermore, the Court of Appeal in Agbaje v Ambode
clearly stated that the partial or non-use of card readers is
not the basis for the cancellation of an election" ~this country is funny

Their plans will definitely come to naught! BTW, nice message. Atleast no bashing unlike your opponent's. #But, am I the only one that noticed he called the APC candidate his friend?

....

HIGHESTPOPORI:
You Yorubas are funny,you call a Governor that was voted for a thug,cos u dream of ur useless party to win? Rivers is PDP,We would vote for dis same Thug again.Lalasticala FP

Please am a pure mbaise boy... Born n breed in pH. .... So please I know wike well and there is no way he can win rivers state on a free and fair election