S’Court reserves judgment in Rivers guber appeal

 Plateau PDP may challenge sacking of lawmakers

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by standard-bearer of All Progressives Congress (APC), Patrick Tonye-Cole, against the victory of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial contest in Rivers State.

The case flowed from the Appeal Court’s decision of November 28, which dismissed Tonye-Cole’s appeal for lacking sufficient and convincing evidence.

He is contending non-compliance with the Electoral Act and Fubara’s ‘continued signing of documents as Accountant-General’ after his nomination as governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as grounds for the appeal.

However, a five-member panel, headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, yesterday, reserved judgment in the appeal after all parties in the suit adopted their briefs of arguments.

Meanwhile, Senators Napoleon Bali and Simon Mwadkwon, who represented Plateau South and North Districts,

have reacted to the apex court’s judgement that reinstated Governor Mutfwang.

They both lamented to The Guardian via phone interviews yesterday the pain the ‘unjust judgment’ of the Appeal Court brought upon them and their supporters.

The duo, however. expressed happiness that the Supreme Court has brought some relief based on which they have resolved to put the Constitution to test since the apex court has ruled that the appellate court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.