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Rivers Guber Polls:Dismiss APC’s Application, INEC Urges Tribunal

Published

10 years ago

August 28, 2015

Surveyor- General, Rivers State, Mr Noel Elenwo (left), explaining the Port Harcourt masterplan to former Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr Chris Ezike, during the working visit of Nigeria Institution of Surveyors, Rivers State branch to the State Police command in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. With them is Mr. Hebron Wisdom
Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Rivers State to dismiss the application of the All Progressive Congress for forensic analysis of materials used for the governorship elections in the state.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the 1st respondent, Mr Ken Njemanze, (SAN) who urged the tribunal to dismiss the application at the resumed sitting of the three-member tribunal at the Apo High Court complex, Abuja, said that the petitioner ought to have affected the issue of scanning and cropping when he told the tribunal in his earlier motion about the issue of inspection of materials.
According to Njemanze, there is an 11-paragraph affidavit before the tribunal to support the prayers of his client.
“The second prayer on the motion paper of the petitioner particularly on scanning and cropping of the ballot papers is alia to the Electoral Act.
“Section 151 of the act permitted only inspection and nothing more, therefore, the prayer of the petitioners is not in line with the makers of the act, so the tribunal should dismiss it, he said.
The Counsel to Wike, Mr Emmanuel Ukala also urged the tribunal to dismiss the application by the petitioners.
He said that his client had already filed a 14-paragraph on Aug. 22 to support the prayer and urged the tribunal to abide with its ruling of June 11 on only inspection and not scanning and cropping.
“The ruling of Aug. 19 has closed the issue of inspection, no matter how it was carved in another language, especially the language by the petitioners on the ‘whole wall of defense’.
“The tribunal cannot make another order on inspection.
‘’The issue of scanning and cropping of the materials is new words from the petitioners after it had already move a motion on earlier date similar to this.
“The tribunal cannot go beyond its order of June 11 on inspection of materials, more so, the issue of scanning and cropping arising outside the order of June 11 is now a subject matter in the Court of Appeal.
“All the parties in this matter were as before the Appeal court on Monday Aug. 24.
‘’The court has adjourned to hear the matter on Aug. 31, therefore, the tribunal should leave the parties to resolve the issue at the Appellate court, ’’ Ukala said.
According to Ukala, scanning and cropping of the materials will mean allowing private individuals to have access to such document and that it will pose danger and security to trivialise the issue.
Ukala stressed that scanning and cropping the materials could pose a danger in which the individuals would identify the pattern of voting and the party they voted for.
He also told the tribunal that such an idea was contrary to the principle of democracy which guaranty confidentiality of electoral process.
“The application by the petitioners is contrary to Section 77 of the electoral act, it is inappropriate and does not aid the petitioners application.
“Section 77 of the electoral act does not talk of scanning and cropping, no provision of the electoral act provides for that therefore the application should be struck out.’’
Also, Counsel to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chris Uche, (SAN) urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitioners’ application, adding that the party had filed a 12-paragraph affidavit to support the prayer.
He said that the present application for scanning and cropping by the petitioners after the order June 11 was a complete gross abuse of the process of the tribunal.
According to Uche, Section 151 of the Electoral Act emphasises three times on inspection and not otherwise.
He also maintained that Section 77 was not available to the petitioner and that it only imposes duty on election for public office before a tribunal or court could be sought.
According to Uche, before tribunal or court can come in reference to Section 77, there must be an indication that such public officer could not perform the statutory duty express in the section.
He said that the application by the petitioners for scanning and cropping of election materials was bereaved.
Justice Muazu Pindiga, the Chairman tribunal adjourned on Aug. 28 to further rule on the application and to conduct question and answer for all the parties in the petition.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has urged the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal for Rivers to grants its application for forensic analysis of materials used for the governorship elections in the state.
Earlier, the party and its candidate in the April 11 elections, Dr Dakuku Peterside, had sought the nullification of the election of Governor Nyesom Wike on grounds of alleged irregularities and fraudulent practices associated with the elections.
Moving the motion, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN), Counsel to APC said that the petitioners sought forensic analysis of the document to proof allegations of falsification and allotment of votes for Wike.
He argued that the earlier order of the tribunal granting his client to inspect the election materials on June 11 would not suffice in proving the case.
Olujinmi alleged that the integrity of the inspected materials had been downgraded and therefore required a forensic analysis to ascertain their authenticity.
He also cited the provision of Section 77 of the Electoral Act as mandating the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to give out the documents relating to the election at any point of demand.
“There is a whole wall of defense with the ruling on June 11, and the application we filed now is different.
‘’What we are seeking for now is to see the ballot papers of the election in question.’’

News

We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA

Published

4 days ago

December 12, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.

The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.

Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.

He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.

The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.

Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.

“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.

“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.

“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.

He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.

He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.

In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.

On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.

He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.

News

Fubara Expresses Commitment To Healthcare …As UNICEF Lauds RSG On Health Programmes

Published

4 days ago

December 12, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.

?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.

?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.

?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.

?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.

?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.

?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.

?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.

News

Dangote Unveils N100bn Education Fund For Nigerian Students

Published

4 days ago

December 12, 2025

The Tide

Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has announced a N100 billion annual education support programme aimed at keeping financially vulnerable Nigerian students in school.

Speaking at the launch of the national scholarship scheme in Lagos, yesterday, Dangote said too many brilliant young people were being forced out of classrooms because of poverty.

He described education as the “strongest engine of social mobility” and a critical foundation for national development.

The initiative, funded by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, will run for ten years beginning in 2026, costing over N1 trillion in total.

Dangote said the scheme would support 45,000 scholars each year at inception, expanding to 155,000 beneficiaries annually by its fourth year, and maintaining that level for the rest of the decade.

By 2036, he said, the programme is expected to have reached at least 1,325,000 students.

“We cannot allow financial hardship to silence the dreams of our young people, not when the future of our nation depends on their skills, resilience and leadership,” he added.

A major component of the fund is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars programme, which will provide annual scholarships for 30,000 undergraduate students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics in public universities and polytechnics.

Each beneficiary will receive tuition support aligned with the fees of their institution and course of study. Dangote said the goal is to expand access to higher education, empower innovation, and give young Nigerians the tools to compete globally.

“STEM drives development. If Nigeria must compete globally, our young minds must have the tools to learn, imagine and innovate,” he said.