Politics
Election Petitions And The Withdrawal Syndrome
The Election Petition Tribunal in Rivers State received a total of 40 Election Petitions from aggrieved parties and defeated candidates following the outcome of the April general elections in the country.
A break down of the Election Petitions showed that the Governorship Election Tribunal headed by Hon. Justice Amina Wambai, received a total of four election petitions from the candidates of All Grand Progressive Alliance (AGPA), Sir Celestine Omehia; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Dr. Abiye Sekibo; Action Alliance (AA), Chief Aleruchi Williams; and African Political System (APS), Chief Felix Amadi, all of them challenging the declaration of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the Governorship poll in the state.
The National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal received a total of 36 Petitions following the outcome of the April 9th and 26th Elections respectively in the state.
However, of these number, the National Assembly Election had 14 election Petitions challenging various candidates declared winners, while the State Assembly had 22 Election Petitions challenging the declared Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Due to the high numbers of the National/State Assembly Election Petitions in the state, the President, Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami set up two National State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals.
The reason was to enable the tribunals perform effectively and achieve maximum result within the time limit of 180 days to deliver judgement in accordance with the relevant provisions under the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended, and the Practice Directions Notice 2011.
But to the dismay of members of the Election Petition Tribunal, some aggrieved political parties and candidates had withdrawn their petitions filed before the tribunals. For instance, the petition No. EPT/GOV/PH/2/2011, filed by Golden Tamuno (Esq) for Dr. Abiye Sekibo and the ACN in the state challenging the declaration of Governor Amaechi of the ruling PDP as the winner of the April Governorship poll in the state was rather dismissed by the Tribunal, instead of the withdrawal as sought by the petitioner, Dr. Abiye Sekibo and the ACN.
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Chairman, Hon. Justice Amina Wambai, who read the ruling, dismissed the petition as well as the motion notice seeking the withdrawal of the petitioner’s petition.
Hon. Justice Wambai said: “the Petitioner failed to apply for the pre-hearing notice within the stipulated period of 7 days under the first schedule Form TF 008 Electoral Act 2010 as amended and, therefore, in the eye of the law, the petitioner was deemed to have abandoned his petition filed before this tribunal”.
Dr, Abiye Sekibo on the contrary claimed that his petition against the declaration of Governor Amaechi as the winner of the April poll was withdrawn on personal ground and not dismissed by the Election Petition Tribunal.
Sekibo was quoted to have said that his petition at the Election Petition Tribunal was withdrawn on personal ground the reality of ACN frustration in the hands of the Electoral Umpire the INEC.
Also withdrawn was Petition No. EPT/NASE/PH/3/2011 filed by Ayo Akan, Counsel to Chief Dr. Nomate Kpea, Senatorial candidate in the National Assembly election under the umbrella of the ACN challenging Senator Magnus Abe of the Peoples PDP winner of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
Dr. Kpea said shortly after filing his motion on notice for the withdrawal of his Petition that “ I took the decision to withdraw my petition for the sake of unity in Ogoniland”.
Kpea further said: I seek to withdraw my petition against the election of Senator Magnus Abe for the sake of development of Ogoniland and for us collectively to tackle the menace of poverty and unemployment among our people.
The ACN Senatorial candidate rather assured the people of his constituency to work selflessly and cooperatively with Senator Magnus Abe to achieve sustainable development and economic empowerment for the people in the District.
Similarly, Chief Shadrack Akolokwu, the ACN Senatorial Candidate for Rivers West Senatorial District filed Motion on Notice for the withdrawal of his petition against the Election of Senator Wilson Ake of the PDP.
In his affidavit for discontinuance of the Petition, Chief Shadrack Akolokwu stated “personal reasons for the withdrawal of his petition”.
Also in the House of Representatives, election Opuada Inko-Tariah, candidate of the ACN withdrew his petition. He had earlier challenged the election of Dr. Dawari George, the declared winner of Asari Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency.
It was same for Pastor (Mrs) Nancy Nwankwo, candidate of the ACN for the Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo Federal Constituency in the April Polls, who also challenged the declaration of Chief Barry Mpigi of the PDP as the winner of the April poll Tai/Eleme Oyigbo Federal Constituency.
Her petition before the Tribunal was also withdrawn for what she claimed was based on her “personal conviction to discontine the case challenging the Electoral victory of Chief Mpigi”.
In the Federal House of Representative Election Petition case No. EPT/NAHR/PH/7/2011 filed by Chief Ambrose Nwuzi, candidate of ACN against the election of Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke of the PDP was withdrawn on personal ground. Chief Emma Nwanyanwu had prevailed on him to withdraw the petition against the electoral victory of Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke in the interest of unity of Etche/Omuma people.
Chief Emma Nwanyanwu said : “Chief Ambrose Nwuzi and Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke are illustrious sons of Etche Ethnic Nationality with common vision and passion for service for their people. Therefore, we, Elders and stakeholders, resolved that two of them should settle out of court.
Reacting to the syndrome of withdrawal of Petitions by various aggrieved political parties and their candidates, Mr. Lebari John, Lecturer at the State University of Education, said: “the withdrawal of some of the petitions by the petitioners are good for the political development of the state”.
He further said: “it is good for the opposition to critise where necessary and support the State Governor for the progress and development of the state”.
A constitutional lawyer, Mr. Frank Igodo said: “The withdrawals will greatly reduce the workload of the Election Petition Tribunal, and it will enable the tribunal to deliver and exhaust the load of petitions before it within the 180 days assigned to them under the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended.
Philip Wuwu Okparaji
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
-
Sports3 days ago
CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
-
Sports3 days ago
FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
-
Sports3 days ago
NPFL club name Iorfa new GM
-
Sports3 days ago
NNL abolishes playoffs for NPFL promotion
-
Sports3 days ago
Kwara Hopeful To Host Confed Cup in Ilorin
-
Sports3 days ago
NSF: Early preparations begin for 2026 National Sports Festival
-
Sports3 days ago
RSG Award Renovation Work At Yakubu Gowon Stadium
-
Sports3 days ago
RSG Pledges To Develop Baseball