The verdict of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal, which was conducted in Abuja, upholding the election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, was not unexpected, according to the Labor Party in Rivers State.
In an interview with Today FM, Gogo Wellington, the publicity secretary for the Labour Party in Rivers, stated that the party would be taking the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Governor Fubara’s victory to the Court of Appeal.
Given that there is sufficient evidence to show that the election was plagued by violence and irregularities, Wellington claimed that the Labor Party still has a case to make in the Court of Appeal.
“We wouldn’t say we are surprised with the ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal but we would say we are disappointed that all the facts and evidence produced in support of our case, the Petition Tribunal still decided that we failed to prove our case.
“We are still very confident that we have a case to prove that the election in Rivers State was marred by all forms of violence and malpractices. And that is unbecoming of any electoral conduct in the 21st century.
“Therefore we feel we have a very strong case to prove.
“To this end, we are proceeding to the Appeal Court to further challenge the elections that were held in Rivers State, as lacking in all the virtues that are supposed to produce a governor for a state like Rivers State.
“We are also challenging the qualification of Siminalayi Fubara to contest the gubernatorial election in Rivers State.” He added.
The Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, upheld the election of Governor Fubara and dismissed the suits by all other political parties challenging his victory.