Rivers State Governorship Tribunal adjourns to receive Appeal Court judgment

The Rivers  State  Governorship  Election  Tribunal has adjourned  its  sitting  to Tuesday to take a position  on the Judgment  of  the  Court  of  Appeal directing it to rule on the  eligibility  of defeated Rivers  State  APC  Governorship  candidate,  Mr Dakuku  Peterside.

The  Tribunal  will also determine  its  position  on the  application  by  the  PDP  seeking  the dismissal  of Dakuku’s  petition  for failing  to  join parties that he made criminal  allegations  against.

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At the  resumed  hearing  on Monday,  counsel  to  Governor  Nyesom Wike,  Mr Emmanuel  Ukala  (SAN ) asked the Tribunal  to  take judicial  notice  of  the  judgment  of  the  Appeal  Court  directing  it to give her ruling on the fundamental  applications  that bordered on the life of the  APC  petition.

He said  that  the certified true copy  of  the  judgment  would  be  made available  to  the tribunal  today for necessary  action.

Following the information from the counsel to Governor Wike, Tribunal  Chairman,  Justice  Mohammed  Ambrosa ruled that the  matter be adjourned  to Tuesday  to enable  the respondents  serve the Tribunal  the certified true copy of the Appeal Court  judgment.



It will  be  recalled  that  the  Court of  Appeal held that since arguments have been taken there was no reason why ruling on the matter was deferred by the tribunal.

The Court of Appeal also ordered the tribunal to rule on the application filed by the respondents seeking the dismissal of the petition because the APC served processes without seeking the leave of the tribunal.

Also, the Appeal Court directed the Tribunal to rule on PDP application seeking the dismissal of the petition on the ground that the APC petition relied on grounds unknown to the Electoral Act.