Rivers Governorship tussle: Fubara floors APC at the supreme court

The Supreme Court has rejected the appeal filed by Tonye Cole and the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the election of Siminalayi Fubara as the Governor of Rivers State.

The court declared the appeal lacked merit, citing the failure of the appellant to substantiate allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

In its ruling, the court determined that the appeal was incompetent and subsequently dismissed it.

Tonye, who contested as the APC candidate in the March 18, 2023 election, had raised concerns about Governor Fubara’s victory.

One of the key contentions was that Fubara did not resign as the accountant general of Rivers State before participating in the election.

He further alleged irregularities, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and corrupt practices.

Despite these claims, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Governor Fubara, emphasizing that the appellant failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the allegations made.

The APC candidate sought the reversal of the judgments issued by both the Court of Appeal and the Tribunal, which had upheld the declaration of Fubara, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the Rivers Governorship Election.

It may be recalled that an Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State on Tuesday, November 28, had dismissed the petition filed by Patrick Tonye-Cole, against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

It dismissed the petition filed by the APC candidate against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Tonye-Cole, who was present at the judgment wanted the court to direct INEC to declare him the winner of the March 2023 governorship election in Rivers.

The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had in October 2023 dismissed the petition of Cole challenging the election of Fubara as the governor of the state.

It dismissed the petition saying that the APC that sponsored Cole had withdrawn the petition against Fubara’s victory.

However, the court affirmed the Tribunal ruling which earlier upheld Fubara’s electoral victory.

Details shortly...