UPDATED: Tribunal Sacks Speaker, 20 PDP Assembly Members In Rivers

RIVERS State election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, nullified the election of Owaji Ibani, speaker of the state house of assembly.

The tribunal also invalidated the election of 20 members of the legislative chamber, who were all elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ruling came exactly two days after the tribunal annulled the victory of Nyesom Wike as governor of the state and ordered fresh poll.

The tribunal, while delivering the judgment in the case of the lawmakers, cited cases of irregularities and violence among other electoral malpractices.

It ordered fresh elections to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill the new vacant seats.

Among those affected by the judgment were leader of the state assembly, Martins Amaewhule, representing Obio-Akpor constituency 1.

Also affected were Tai State Constitituency, Obio-Akpor constituencies one and two, Akuku-Toru one and two, Opobo Nkoro, Bonny, as well as Degeme, ONELGA One, Gokana constituencies one and two and Etche two constituency.

The state and National Assembly election tribunal held that the PDP candidates for Tai and Gokana were not duly elected due to substantial non-compliance with the regulations of the INEC.

The tribunal ordered fresh elections to be conducted in the affected constituencies within 90 days.

Reacting to the development, Matthew Dike of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Tai constituency dedicated the victory at the tribunal to God, adding that he was confident of victory in the rerun.

APC candidate for Gokana state constituency, Innocent Barikor, thanked God and assured that he was ready for another round of election.

The lawmaker representing Degema constituency in the state assembly, Farah Dagogo, described the judgment as vexatious.

A statement released by the lawmaker explained that he had already begun the process of appealing.

However, the elections for Oyigbo constituency as well as that of Kelechi Nworgu of Omuma state constitution were upheld by the tribunal.

Also upheld were the elections for Ogu-Bolo, Abua-Odual, ONELGA Two, PHALGA one and three, Emohua and Ahoada West.

There are 32 state lawmakers in Rivers, but the tribunal nullified the election of 21 members.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Nyesom Wike, has turned to God for help.

Speaking on Sunday during a thanksgiving service held in honour of his supporters in Port Harcourt, Wike described the verdict as a distraction, urging the people to stand along with him.(Tribune)