ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- In a unanimous decision led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Supreme Court on Thursday, affirmed the election victory of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Rivers State.
The court dismissed an appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. Tonye Cole, challenging the outcome of the 18 March, 2023 governorship election.
Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, delivering the lead judgment, stated that the court found no merit in Cole’s appeal and upheld the concurrent verdicts of the Court of Appeal and the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
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The ruling emphasized that Cole failed to establish that the election did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Despite the APC withdrawing from the case during the hearing at the tribunal, Cole continued to challenge Fubara’s victory, alleging corrupt practices and non-compliance with electoral laws.
However, both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed his case for lack of merit.
Governor Fubara, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured victory with 302,614 votes, while Cole of the APC garnered 95,274 votes.
The Supreme Court’s decision solidifies Fubara’s position as the duly elected governor of Rivers State.