Fubara’s Election Upheld by Supreme Court: Remains Governor of Rivers State, The Supreme Court has upheld the election victory of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. The unanimous decision by a five-member panel, led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Tonye Cole.
The court found no merit in the appeal, affirming the concurrent verdicts of the Court of Appeal and the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld Fubara’s victory in the March 18, 2023, election. Despite the APC pulling out from the case, Tonye Cole continued to challenge the election results, alleging irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Despite the withdrawal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the case against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Tonye Cole continued to challenge the election results, alleging irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. Cole argued that Fubara continued to sign documents as the Accountant-General of Rivers State even after being nominated as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship election. He urged the tribunal to nullify Fubara’s Certificate of Return and declare him the authentic winner. However, both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal dismissed Cole’s case for lack of merit. The Supreme Court also dismissed a separate appeal by the candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, Innocent Kere, after the appellants withdrew the case.
The Supreme Court is poised to deliver judgments on gubernatorial election appeals from Rivers, Taraba, and Sokoto states. The judgments will determine the legal status of the respective governors in these states. The cases involve appeals challenging the outcomes of the governorship elections held in these states. The Supreme Court’s decisions are expected to have significant implications for the political landscape in the affected states.
In the Rivers Governorship Appeal, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Tonye Cole, challenges the victory of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Cole alleges that Fubara did not resign as the Accountant General of Rivers State before the election and cites irregularities, non-compliance with the electoral act, and corrupt practices. Cole seeks the reversal of the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Tribunal, which upheld Fubara’s victory. The Supreme Court’s five-member panel, led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, is currently hearing the appeal, with Justice Mohammad Saulawa delivering the judgment.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court has upheld Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s election victory. The lead judgment, delivered by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, affirmed Fubara’s election and dismissed the appeal by Tonye-Cole for being incompetent and lacking in merit. Justice Saulawa stated that the appellant failed to prove allegations of over-voting, non-compliance, and non-qualification of Fubara to contest the election. The Supreme Court affirmed the concurrent judgments of the lower courts, which dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
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