Breaking News: Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike's Address After Governorship Election Nullification

The Rivers State Governor, gave this keynote address after his election as the Governor of the state was nullified by the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal on the 24th of October,2015.

My dear good people of Rivers State, it is with profound  sense of concern and responsibility that I address you over the judgment of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal delivered on Saturday October 24, 2015  purportedly verifying my election and return as the duly unlawfully elected Governor of our state.

We all know that on April 11th and 12th, 2015 Rivers people in their million joined the rest of the country and enthusiastically participated in electing their Governor and members of the state house of assembly. Apart from the reported malfunctioning of the card reader supply by the independent national electoral commission (INEC), which bills no advantage on any of the contestant the election took place throughout the state and was adjourned by voting observers and international observers to be likely peaceful, transparent free, fair and credible. Following the sustenance of the election, I was return and duly and lawfully elected by the independent national electoral commission having certified all the necessary legal requirements.

However, following the petition by APC and its Governorship candidate and despite the woeful failure of the petitioner to discharge the burden of proof with respect to their contradictory while and false allegation against the conduct of the election, the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal nullify my election on the basis of INEC alleged in factions of its administrative guideline on the use of card reader.

It is common knowledge that INEC card reader malfunction throughout the country in the 2015 general election, it is also common knowledge that whenever the card reader malfunction, manual accreditation which is the only process recognized by electoral arms was used to accredit voters all over the country.

So far I am not aware of any state where the election was postponed as a result of failure of card reader.

Furthermore, the court of appeal Agbaje and Ambode clearly stated as the partial of non use of card readers is not and cannot be the basis for the cancellation of an election. Yet against all legal odds and grains of logic the tribunal in its wisdom decided to accord undue legal whip to destroy of statement around the use and non use of card readers to support its decision in the face of a hopelessly bad case of the petitioner.

As we all know, our judicial system is built on the doctrine of hierarchy of court in whose lower court are bound by the decision of court higher in hierarchy condescend construal issues, it is therefore strange for the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal to arrive at a decision that negate subsisting judgment from the court of appeal or the supreme court. Been an impeccable believer in the majesty of our judicial system as the last hope of the common man I have intrinsic confidence in the ability of the appellate court to correct the mistake of the tribunal and where the wrong that was indulge from collecting sides and aspiration.

Accordingly, I have since instructed my team of lawyers to immediately convene the appeal process and right decision on the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal upon for good. At this point I appeal to all my supporters across the state and beyond to remain calm and go about their legitimate duties in a peaceful manner there is no cause for alarm.

By virtue of the constitution and the electoral act, am still your Governor and will remain your Governor until the exhaustive conclusion of the appeal process at the Supreme Court. Therefore be assured of your mandate which you freely gave to the People’s Democratic Party and my humble self is intact, safe and secured. God will not allow your mandate to come to naught.

I wish to thank the people of Rivers State for your unwavering support I’ve enjoyed from you since the beginning of the struggle to this moment. To be highly humbled we show solidarity from all and sundry and in particular the confidence in our ability to move the state forward and the overwhelming satisfaction with what we are already doing as our Government to reposition the state.

I wish to further assure you that my team and I will not be distracted by this minor irritation we shall remain focus on our vision and continue to deliver our fundamental promises on improving security, massive development of infrastructure and socio economic empowerment in Rivers State.

Finally, be assured that by the special grace of God we shall ultimately prevail over our adversary retain our mandate and return the glory to God almighty our maker and refuge.

Thank you and May God continue to bless Rivers State.