The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is not worried over the decision of the state Governor, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, to appeal the judgment of the Justice Suleiman Ambrosa-led State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal that nullified the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state.
Wike had on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, through his counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, where he established 26 grounds of appeal, praying it to upturn the judgment of the Tribunal, which nullified his election on October 24, 2015,
His appeal has the APC, its governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as respondents.
Reacting to the development in a chat with journalists in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Thursday, secretary of the Media and Publicity Committee of the APC in the state, Hon. Godstime Orlukwu, who assured supporters of the party that the APC will win again at the Court of Appeal.
Orlukwu said, “We are happy that Governor Wike has finally gone on appeal against the tribunal judgment, which sacked him from office. Even though we had thought that he will not go on appeal since he claims that he has the magic wand to always win elections. We shall meet the PDP in court; we shall meet them at the Court of Appeal and by the grace of God, we shall defeat them again.
“The judgment we had at the tribunal is a watertight judgment. Apart from faulting the disregard of lawful guidelines; constitutionally lawful guidelines issued by INEC, Justice Ambrosa also hinged his ruling on widespread violence and use of known PDP thugs as collation officers.
“Our party proved these facts beyond every reasonable doubt that in all the LGAs, total accreditation for governorship election was at complete variance with the House of Assembly, for an election that was held simultaneously. In fact, in some LGAs, one PDP member signed result sheets for all the units and wards”.
Orlukwu commended the APC gubernatorial candidate, Peterside, for showing good leadership and for being a detribalised politician right from his days as Commissioner for Works.
