Rivers gov’ship: S/Court dismisses APM’s appeal, reserves judgement in APC’s

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal by the Allied People’s Movement (APM) against the election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

A five-member panel of justices on Monday led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun also reserved judgment in the appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, against the same election.

On the APM appeal, the governorship candidate, Innocent Ekwu, had sought the nullification of Governor Fubara’s victory on the grounds of his exclusion from the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He contended through his counsel, Confidence L. Kere, that he participated in all the congresses to emerge as a candidate of his political party but the party was not captured in the printed ballot papers for the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

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But the apex court panel ruled that having not been recognised as a candidate in the election, Ekwu lacked the locus standi to appear before the court.

The counsel was advised to withdraw the appeal and was thus dismissed.

In the appeal brought by Cole, he was contending that the election was conducted in substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.

In a related development, the Rivers State House of Assembly has asked the nine former commissioners who resigned from the state executive council to appear on Wednesday for re-screening and re-confirmation as commissioners.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Clerk of the House, Mr Emeka Amadi, on Monday in Port Harcourt.

The clerk said the commissioners include Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor (SAN); Commissioner for Works, Dr Des George-Kelly; Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Woke; Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs Inime Aguma; and Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu.

Others are the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chinedu Mmom; Commissioner for Housing, Dr Gift Worlu, Commissioner for Transport, Dr Jacobson Nbina; and Commissioner for Environment, Austin Ben-Chioma.

Daily Trust reports that on Dec. 16, 2023, a gale of resignations hit the state’s executive council following the political crisis between the Governor of the state, Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

But following a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu between the gladiators, the reabsorption of the former commissioners was included in the eight-point resolution that was signed by all the stakeholders.