NASS Polls: Rivers Tribunal May Rule, ’Morrow

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, in a handshake with the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, recently.

The Rivers State National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, has finally adopted written addresses of all parties in most of the cases before it, and may begin delivering judgements  tomorrow.
The Tide gathered that all those involved in the petitions filed by former Senator Magnus Abe’s challenge of the victory of Senator Olaka Nwogu in the March 28, 2015 election for Rivers South-East Senatorial District, have adopted their final addresses.
Similarly, the final addresses have been adopted in the petition brought by Hon Barinada Mpigi of the APC challenging the victory of his PDP rival for Oyigbo-Eleme-Tai Federal Constituency election.
The same situation also applies to parties involved in the petition of Maurice Pronen, all of which are being determined by the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal for Rivers State, in Abuja.
Although The Tide learnt that the tribunal is yet to decide on a date for judgment, but an inside source disclosed that judgments may not be later than today.
Meanwhile, hearing continues in the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) last Saturday, sustained its defence of the victory secured by Governor Nyesom Wike in the election on 11th of April.
Counsel to the PDP presented more documents in evidence, including the voters register used for the Rivers State Governorship election.
The PDP also tendered additional incident forms used for accreditation of voters in a bid to support its argument that both manual and electronic accreditation using the card reader machines were used during the governorship election.
However, counsel to the petitioners, Akin Olujimi, raised objection to the admissibility of the documents, but told the tribunal that his objection will be taken during the final address.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleiman Ambrosa admitted all the documents tendered by the PDP in evidence, and marked them as exhibits.
Further hearing has been adjourned till today for continuation of the PDP’s defence.