Rivers Gov Poll: Wike Appeals Tribunal Judgment

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has approached Abuja division of the Court of Appeal to question the decision of the state’s Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the outcome of the April 11 governorship poll that brought him to power.Specifically, the embattled governor wants the Appeal Court to set aside the verdict that was delivered against him by the Justice Ambrosa Suleiman-led tribunal on October 24, on the reason that it was perverse and legally defective.According to the notice of appeal dated November 3, 2015, Wike, through his lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), raised 26 grounds for the appellate court to consider in determining whether or not the verdict of the tribunal was anchored on the weight of evidence laid before it and sound interpretation of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.Insisting that he was dissatisfied with the entire judgement of the lower tribunal, the troubled Wike has as respondents, the All Progressives Congress (APC), its governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).According to the notice of appeal, “Take notice that the Appellant, being dissatisfied with the decision of the Governorship Election Tribunal for Rivers State, sitting in Abuja, contained in the judgment of the tribunal coram Hon. Justice Suleiman Ambursa (chairman ), Hon. Justice Wesley Ibrahim Leha (member ) and Hon. Justice Bayo Taiwo (member) (sitting in Court no. 23 of the FCT High Court dated the 24th of October 2015), doth hereby appeal to the Court of Appeal upon the grounds set out in paragraph 3 and will at the hearing seek the reliefs set out in paragraph 4.”Wike prayed the appellate court to allow his appeal and issue an order setting aside the judgment/decision of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal.The governor equally asked the Court of Appeal for an order striking out or dismissing the election petition filed on May 3, 2015, by Peterside and the APC.