Rivers LG Polls: Court Dismiss LP Petition for Lack of Merit

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition of Labour Party (LP) and its chairmanship candidate, Chioma Chinwo, in the last local government council election in the state, for lack of merit.

The three-man panel of the tribunal led by Chief Magistrate Menenen Poromon in a unanimous judgment said the petitioners failed to prove their case.

The panel said the petitioners could not prove their case on alleged allotment of votes to the winner of the election as declared by the Rivers State Independent electoral commission (RSIEC).

The panel also held that the petitioners failed to prove claim of widespread irregularity in the election, where they were not able to present witness to that effect, insisting that the election was conducted in accordance with electoral law.

Also ruling, the panel agreed with the respondents that Port Harcourt City Local Government Council Chairman was qualified to contest the election and showed proved with evidence contrary to the claim of the petitioners that he was not qualified to contest because he allegedly failed to resign as a civil servant before contesting the election.

The  petition tribunal after considering the preliminary issues and merit of the petition, dismissed the petition of the LP and their chairmanship candidate, Chinwo in its entirety for lack of merit.

Speaking with journalists immediately after the ruling at the court premises, Counsel for Mayor of Port Harcourt, Chuks Ogworu explained the grounds on which the tribunal dismissed the petition.

Ogworu said his client was rightly declared by RISEC, adding that the victory of Ezebunwo Ichemati has been given legal backing.

On his part, Counsel for Action People’s Party (APP), Chimenem Jerome, after narrating how the claimant filed the suit, emphasised on the reason the tribunal agreed with the APP and dismissed the petition.

In the meantime, a stakeholder in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Ikechi Chinda, who was a collation agent of APP in the last LGA election, said with the judgment, the Mayor can now focus and deliver the dividends of democracy which is his mandate by the people.

THISDAY observed that Counsel for the claimants was absent in court and were not represented during the judgment.