The Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Thursday reserved judgment in the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress and its candidate in the April 11 election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, challenging the election of Governor Nyesom Wike as the winner of the poll.
The Justice Mohammed Ambrosa-led tribunal reserved judgment after parties to the petition adopted their final written addresses on Thursday.
Justice Ambrosa said the date for delivering the judgment would be communicated to parties when it is ready.
At the final hearing day of the petition on Thursday, lead counsel to the petitioner, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), urged the tribunal to nullify the election and order the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh one.
Olujinmi maintained that the petitioners had been able to establish that the April 11 poll was conducted in substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The petitioners, who called 56 witnesses, had tendered documentary evidence ranging from security to INEC reports; all of which indicated that the conduct of the April 11 election was characterised by fraud and widespread violence.
The respondents – INEC, Wike and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party – while adopting their separate addresses, argued that the petitioners failed to prove the case in line with the standard set by the statutes and previous decisions of the Supreme Court.
Lawyers representing the respondents– Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), for INEC; Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) for Wike and Wole Olanipekun for the PDP, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds that the petitioners failed to discharge the onus of proof placed on them by the law.
At the trial, INEC called 24 witnesses, Wike called 16, but the PDP called none.
The petitioners called 56 witnesses, including some of its agents during the election and officers of the Nigerian Army, the police as well as the Department of State Service, who narrated how the conduct of the poll was characterised by irregularities and widespread violence.
One of the petitioners’ witnesses was the Head of the Election and Party Monitoring Department of INEC in Rivers State, Charles Okoye, who described the poll as “militants’ terrorism and a sham” which he said resulted in a mockery of democracy.

www.punchng.com/news/tribunal-reserves-judgment-in-petersides-petition-against-wike-2/

Time will tell on how this season will end either in favour of PDP or APC... Change.
Still watching

sayyid:


One of the petitioners’ witnesses was the Head of the Election and Party Monitoring Department of INEC in Rivers State, Charles Okoye, who described the poll as “militants’ terrorism and a sham” which he said resulted in a mockery of democracy.

www.punchng.com/news/tribunal-reserves-judgment-in-petersides-petition-against-wike-2/

That's the punchline i have been looking for. As usual it came as the last line. Wike and the pdp should be preparing for another election.

I dey laugh

bt sumtin smells fishy hia Amaechi screened as minister tribunal reserves petersides petition till further notice
hp dis is nt trade by .......

Blizzy9ja:
I dey laugh

we hope so but even if Amaechi brings all his mercenaries for the re-run, if there would be any, Wike (NEW) would still beat Dakuku (the only good APC member I have seen in Rivers)

dexpee4life:
we hope so but even if Amaechi brings all his mercenaries for the re-run, if there would be any, Wike (NEW) would still beat Dakuku (the only good APC member I have seen in Rivers)

God bless you

Peterside is a loser