Speaker, 19 Others To Appeal Rivers Tribunal Judgement …‘Tribunal Ruling, Affront On Democracy’

Rivers State Executive Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike (left), being received by his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry-Banigo on his arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport, after the verdict of the Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Saturday. With them is former Deputy Speaker, House Representatives, Hon. Austin Opara,

Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani, has called for calm in the state, saying that the 20 lawmakers had appealed the judgement of the lower tribunal in Abuja which nullified their elections on Monday.
Ibani, who did not appear ruffled as he addressed newsmen in his office at the state House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, yesterday, expressed hope that the judgement of the lower tribunal will be upturned at the Court of Appeal.
He further dismissed as untrue media reports that he and 20 others were no longer members of the state House of Assembly.
According to him, they still remain members of the House until the determination of the appeal, adding that he was hopeful he would complete his tenure as a lawmaker.
“I heard over the news that the speaker and 20 others have been sacked by the election tribunal.
“No member, not even the Speaker has been sacked. The lower tribunal gave judgement in their opinion. In their judgement, they argued that there should be a rerun within 90 days”, he said.
The Speaker, who pleaded that the same principles of law should apply in all situations round the country, wondered why card reader was an issue in the election of Governor Nyesom Wike, yet it was not the same in a case on similar election in Lagos State.
“We have strong faith in the Nigerian state and its judicial system. We believe as legislators that conscience not placed on the canvass of justice is unconscionable. We believe that the same principles in law should be applied in all circumstance.
“If Akinwumi Ambode in Lagos State was not removed because of non-use of card reader, why should Wike’s case in Rivers be different? Justice is one element that keeps the faith of the people of a nation. It is my plea that wherever we find ourselves as people of Nigeria, the Nigerian state should give us justice.
“Governor Ambode’s case had nothing to do with the card reader but Governor Wike’s case had something to do with the card reader.
“I will not want to pre-empt the judgement of the appellate court. All I can tell you is that I have appealed against the judgement of the lower tribunal”, he said.
“Our lawyers have applied for the records of proceedings. Already, we have gone on appeal, if you look at the law, it states that from the day judgment is given in any petition, you have to file your appeal and in 60 days, judgement should be delivered.
“Indeed, no member of the House of Assembly was sacked by the tribunal. But we believe that if a particular principle applied in some situations in the North or West, it should also apply in the South-South.
“We did not consult God to create us as Rivers people. We did not consult God to put Rivers where it is today in the map of Nigeria. We did not consult God to make us part of the nation state called Nigeria”, he said.
The speaker, who reiterated his position that the general elections in the state were free and fair, said he was hopeful that the judiciary will redress what he perceived as wrong done with the nullification of the elections by the tribunal.
“The whole world knows that election was conducted in the state on April 11. The whole world knows as well that INEC prepared for such election for a long period. Because we have faith in the judicial system, we have faith in the judges and justices we have in Nigeria, we believe that our case will not be different.
“We have faith in the Chief Justice of Nigeria that justice must be done. We have faith in the judiciary.
“You can’t insulate democracy from justice. Through free will, the people voted Governor Wike and members of the state House of Assembly. We must keep faith with the Nigeria state”, he said.
Ibani, who sensed that the tribunal judgement so far had generated a form of tension in the state, said he had to brief the press to douse the tension.
“People will always say this Speaker does not laugh. Today, I am going to laugh. Leadership entails maturity”, he said on a lighter note.
It would be recalled that the election petitions tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday nullified the election of 20 members of the House on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
Among those affected was the Speaker, Majority Leader of the House, Hon Martins Amaewhule, representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 1.
The tribunal judgement upheld the election of 12 other members of the House, among them, Hon Evans Bipi, who is the Chief Whip and former leader of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers during the second term of former governor Chibuike Amaechi.
The election of the member representing Eleme constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was also upheld by the tribunal.
The PDP had won its case in 11 state constituencies, including Oyigbo, Etche 1, Omuma, Ogu-Bolo, PHALGA 1 and 3, ONELGA 2, Abua-Odual, Ahoada West, Ahoada East 2, and Emohua.
The APC  also won its challenge of the election in 20 state constituencies, including Gokana, Obio/Akpor 1 and 2, Etche 2, Opobo/Nkoro, Akuku-Toru 1and 2, Asari-Toru 1 and 2, Bonny, Tai, ONELGA 1, Degema, Ahoada East, Khana 1 and 2, Ikwerre, PHALGA 2, Andoni, and Okrika.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor, on Media and Publicity, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah has described the recent nullification of the Rivers Governorship Election by the Elections Petitions Tribunal as an affront on democracy and a gang up against Governor Nyesom Wike and the people of Rivers State.
Sir Inko-Tariah who stated this in a press statement made available to The Tide, said the verdict of the Tribunal was a blight disregard for the will of Rivers people as evinced in the April 11 general elections.
He said Rivers people overwhelmingly gave their mandate to Governor Wike but a ‘microscopic’ few want to wrest that mandate from him through the back door.
He further pointed out that the judiciary was setting pernicious precedents by hinging their verdicts on inane points.
He faulted the moving of the juridical seat to Abuja, noting that the sole objective was to subvert the will of the people, as both the Court of Appeal and the federal High Court were sitting, and Rivers State was peaceful, as at when the tribunal was set up.
He regretted that the issue of security was only used as a basis of subverting the popular will of Rivers people. He wondered why the former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi, “who displayed so much hatred and disgust for the courts and rule of law by closing the High Court’s in Rivers State for close to two years without a twinge of conscience is today the lovely bride of the court.
The S.A. however stated that truth will prevail at the end of the day, as Rivers people will defend their mandate given to Governor Wike.