Supreme Court upholds election of Amosun, Wike and Umahi

Update: Supreme Court upholds Wike,
Amosun, Umahi’s elections




The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the
elections of Nyesom Wike, Ibikunle Amosun and Dave
Umahi as governors of Rivers, Ogun and Ebonyi
States respectively.


The court in three unanimous judgments in the
appeals filed Wike, his party, the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), set aside the concurrent
judgments of the Rivers State governorship election
tribunal and the Court of Appeal, Abuja.


The appeals were all heard by a seven-man panel
headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice
Mahmud Mohammed.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead
judgments in the three appeals, upheld the return of
Wike as winner of the election.


“I find and hold that this appeal is meritorious and it
is allowed. The judgment of the lower court delivered
on the 16th of November 2015 and the judgment of
the tribunal delivered on 24th October 2015 are
hereby set aside.
“The petition of the petitioners is dismissed. The
return of Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State
by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) is restored,” she stated.
Justice Kekere-Ekun said she will provide reason for
her decision on February 12.



Justices Mohammed, Ibrahim Mohammed, Sylvester
Ngwuta, Kumai Akaahs and Amiru Sanusi, who were
members of the panel agreed with Kekere-Ekun’s lead
judgment.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Dakuku Peterside and his party had gone
before the Rivers State governorship election tribunal
to challenge Wike’s return by INEC as the winner of
the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state.
The tribunal, which sat in Abuja, ruled in favour of
the petitioners and voided the election on grounds of
widespread violence and non-compliance with the
Electoral Act.
It ordered a rerun election within 90 days.




The apex court also dismissed the appeal by the PDP
governorship candidate in Ogun State, Adegboyega
Isiaka.
Isiaka had challenged the judgments of the Court of
Appeal and Ogun State governorship election
tribunal, which both upheld the election of Ibikunle
Amosun as governor of Ogun State.





Justice Akaahs, who read the lead judgment, held
that the appeal lacked merit and dismissed it.
The court equally dismissed the appeal filed by
governorship candidate of Labour Party in Ebonyi
State, Edward Nkwegu.
Justice Chima Centus Nweze, who read the lead
judgment, held that the preliminary objection raised
by Umahi succeeds in part.
He resolved the two issues on the main appeal
against the appellant.
“No merit in this appeal. Umahi is the duly elected
governor of Ebonyi State. Reasons will be given on
Friday, January 29,” Justice Nweze held.

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