The drama in Rivers state executive arm of government has spread to the legislature, as the speaker and other lawmakers suffer the fate of the governor.
Speaker, Owaji Ibani pictured taking the oath of office
The Rivers State legislative election petition tribunals yesterday nullified the election of 20 out of the 32 members of the state House of Assembly. This came barely 48 hours after the election of Nyesom Wike as governor was nullified.
The four tribunals, in separate judgments yesterday, upheld the petitions by candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the election. They ordered rerun in the affected constituencies.
Yesterday, the tribunals upheld the petitioners’ evidence, particularly in relation to allegations of irregularities and violence among other electoral malpractices. The tribunals were of the view that the petitioners were, by the evidence led, able to prove their case.
By yesterday’s development, the PDP is now left with just 11 seats in the House. There was only one member of the APC in the House.
The affected lawmakers are, under the Electoral Act, entitled, within 21 days, to challenge the nullification of the elections at the appellate court.