Tribunal sweeps out 21 Rivers PDP state lawmakers

Monday, October 26, 2015 7:45 pm

It was almost a complete sweep of Rivers lawmakers today as the state elections petition tribunal sitting in Abuja nullified the election of the Speaker, Owaji Ibani from Andoni constituency and 20 other lawmakers in the State House of Assembly.

The lawmakers were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party on April 11 2015 in an election marred by vote rigging and violence.

Owaji Ibani, left, when taking the oath in June, 2015

The verdict was anticipated as Governor Nyesom Wike, who claimed to have won the election on the same day under the same circumstances, was sacked by the Governorship tribunal on Saturday

The state assembly has 32 lawmakers, leaving only 11, who can no longer form a quorum.

Four different panels each with two members, sat in Abuja over the National and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.

The panel, which sat at the FCT High Court in Jabi, also ordered fresh elections within 90 days.

The tribunal cited cases of irregularities and violence among other electoral malpractices which warranted the nullification of the lawmakers’ election victory.

The petition was brought by candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the lawmakers, who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 11 state assembly elections.

The affected lawmakers have indicated their intention to appeal the verdict