The Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has refused to stay proceedings on the suit challenging the victory of Governor Nyesom Wike at the April 11 governorship election.
The new chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleiman Ambrosa, in his ruling, held that the tribunal would carry out the Court of Appeal judgment at the date appropriate for it.
But counsel to Wike and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), who was dissatisfied with the ruling, insisted that the appellate court judgment must be complied with before proceeding, an argument opposed by counsel to Dakuku Peterside who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Akin Olujimi (SAN).
The tribunal, however, overruled Ukala and asked the petitioner to call it’s witnesses.
The defendants (Wike and PDP) had earlier asked the tribunal to stay proceedings until the Court of Appeal judgment which directed the tribunal to deliver ruling on pending applications at the court.
Meanwhile, 10 witnesses were called in of which some of them affirmed that they did not state all that happened in their witness statement.
One of the witnesses, Emmanuel Peresima, said the PDP has been winning election in the state.
He also said there was only one security officer on ground as against his earlier statement that election materials were carted away under heavy security.
The new chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleiman Ambrosa, in his ruling, held that the tribunal would carry out the Court of Appeal judgment at the date appropriate for it.
But counsel to Wike and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), who was dissatisfied with the ruling, insisted that the appellate court judgment must be complied with before proceeding, an argument opposed by counsel to Dakuku Peterside who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Akin Olujimi (SAN).
The tribunal, however, overruled Ukala and asked the petitioner to call it’s witnesses.
The defendants (Wike and PDP) had earlier asked the tribunal to stay proceedings until the Court of Appeal judgment which directed the tribunal to deliver ruling on pending applications at the court.
Meanwhile, 10 witnesses were called in of which some of them affirmed that they did not state all that happened in their witness statement.
One of the witnesses, Emmanuel Peresima, said the PDP has been winning election in the state.
He also said there was only one security officer on ground as against his earlier statement that election materials were carted away under heavy security.
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