The Rivers State Labour Party claims it was not taken aback by the Abuja-seated Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal’s decision upholding the election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Gogo Wellington, the party’s publicity secretary in Rivers, stated in an interview with Today FM that the party plans to appeal the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Governor Fubara’s victory.
The Labour Party still has a case to make before the Court of Appeal, according to Wellington, because there is sufficient evidence to show that the election was plagued by violence and irregularities.
“We wouldn’t say we are surprised by the Election Petition Tribunal’s decision, but we would say we are sad that despite all the information and data we provided to support our case, the Petition Tribunal still found that we had not made a convincing argument.
“We are quite convinced that we can show that the election in Rivers State was tainted by all kinds of violence and irregularities. And in the twenty-first century, that is unacceptable electoral behaviour.
“As a result, we believe we have a very compelling argument to make.
“To this end, we are moving forward with the Appeal Court to further contest the Rivers State elections as deficient in all the qualities that are expected to create a governor for a state like Rivers State.
Siminalayi Fubara’s eligibility to run for governor of Rivers State is also being contested, he continued.
The challenges filed by all other political parties contesting Governor Fubara’s election were dismissed by the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal, which was sitting in Abuja on Monday.
