Beyond The Noise Outside Rivers Election Tribunal
Oyewale Oyelola
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state despite verbal attacks, name calling and other political gimmicks by opposition party to undermine his administration remain focus in delivering dividends of democracy to people of the state who voted him in April governorship election.
Wike, the People’s Democratic Party Governorship Candidate in Rivers State defeated APC Governorship flagbearer, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Labour Party candidate, Tonye Princewill and other candidates of other political parties who participated in 2015 gubernatorial poll in the state with over one million votes. The election result to political watchers who are familiar with Rivers state politics opined that it would have surprise of the century if Nyesom Wike did not win.
Although, APC candidate, Dakuku Peterside, Labour Party without Tonye Princewill and APGA Governorship candidate approached the election petition tribunal to challenge the outcome of the governorship election. The decision of those candidates that were not happy with the declaration of Wike as elected governor of Treasure Base of the Nation, to seek redress through constitutional means is highly commendable.
However, the recent development at Rivers state governorship petition tribunal sitting in Abuja is source of worry as different parties are planting stories in media to boost their chances.
Rivers State APC Chapter in swift reaction to judgment of tribunal last week said Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred in declaring Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the violence-marred election globally acknowledged to be a charade.
The statement reads in part: “We wish to echo the words of Chief Akin Olunjinmi, leading counsel to our distinguished gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, that Chief Wike’s prayer and motion on jurisdiction is a deliberate attempt and ‘game-plan’ to delay the tribunal’s sitting. We are happy that the honourable tribunal saw through Wike’s tricks and justifiably dismissed his objections, thus paving the way for the hearing of the substantive suit,” Rivers APC said in the statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
“While Wike continues to enjoy the dividends of his stolen mandate, we wish to advise him to start to gradually pack his bags because he is a temporary tenant in the Rivers State Government House. The mountain of evidence against the declaration of Wike as governor is so high that his ouster by the tribunal is a foregone conclusion.”
The last part of the statement shows that APC has assumed the position of judge in their own case. The party has concluded that the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal would nullify Aprill 11, 2015 gubernatorial election and order rerun.
APC recently advised PDP not to present Wike as their candidate because he will be jailed for killing innocent citizens during electioneering period. The allegation against Governor Wike who served as Minister of State for Education during Jonathan’s tenure are baseless as far as law is concern.
Meanwhile, the tribunal has dismissed the petition of Labour party based on technical grounds.It would be recalled that the Governorship candidate of Labour Party, Tonye Princewill decided not to contest the victory of Governor Nyesom Wike at the polls, saying his interest is the growth and development of Rivers State and its people.
The immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega in media interview described the alleged electoral mal-practices in Rivers state during Presidential and governorship elections as exaggerated.
Jega said: I don’t think there were massive irregularities as reported in Rivers State; my advice is that they should go to the tribunal, if they have evidence, On our own part we have done our thorough investigation. We have scanned 95 percent of the results sheets from all the polling units and we will put them on our site once we get to 100 per cent. I am not saying there are no irregularities, but not to the magnitude that has been reported.”
Beyond all the noise outside the tribunal sitting in Abuja, Governor Nyesom Wike performance in just two months in office would work for him if Rivers governorship tribunal even order rerun. Civil servants who are smiling to bank regularly will match their words with actions when the need arise. While the masses across the state that are enjoying dividends of democracy in terms of rehabilitation of roads, accessible health care among others would always support Peoples’ governor any time any day.
Governor Wike should not allow ongoing court case to distract him from his transformation work in Port Harcourt and other parts of the state.



Oyewale writes via obalola234@yahoo.com
Source:http://factualtimes.com/beyond-the-noise-outside-rivers-election-tribunal/

So this is Wike

@op are u scared... .. . Even a child in rivers state know that the governorship election was a scam.. ..
But can APC win the rerun? that's a story for another day. ....
Wike is curupt. ... We all know that.. .. and once he is removed as Governor.. .. . EFCC is free to aresst and prosecute him according to the law...
And all you can do is cry

mrvitalis:
@op are u scared... .. . Even a child in rivers state know that the governorship election was a scam.. ..
But can APC win the rerun? that's a story for another day. ....
Wike is curupt. ... We all know that.. .. and once he is removed as Governor.. .. . EFCC is free to aresst and prosecute him according to the law...
And all you can do is cry

[s][/s]
TRASH

Ok

Rivers State is still PDP state, Rerun election would just be walkover for Governor Wike while Dakuku and his mentor Rotimi Ameachi will run to tribunal again