15th January, 2024
By Ebere Agozie
The Supreme Court on Monday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers March 18, 2023 governorship election, Patrick Tonye-Cole, against the declaration of Siminalayi Fubara of People Democratic Party, PDP as the winner of the poll.
A five-member panel headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun reserved judgment on the appeal after all parties in the suit adopted their briefs of arguments.
Tonye-Cole filed the suit following the Appeal Court’s decision of Nov. 28, 2023, which dismissed his appeal for lacking sufficient and convincing evidence.
The APC governorship candidate contends that the Rivers 2023 governorship election was marred by irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The APC candidate also alleged that Fubara continued to sign documents as the Rivers State’s Accountant-General after his nomination as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the PDP and Fubara.
…details soon….
EPA/SH