The Governorship Candidate of the Africa Action Congress(AAC), in the March 9, 2019 governorship elections in Rivers state, Biokpomabo Awara has lost his petition before Justice Kingsley Orjiakor-led three-man election Petition Panel in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
AWARA had petitioned to the tribunal to declare him rightful winner of the election shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at the poll, Governor Nyesom Wike winner on April 2, 2019.
He claimed that he had already won the polls in several local government areas of the state before INEC suspended the process over alleged violence.
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But in his judgement, the Judge said Awara did not prove his case beyond reasonable that that he won the polls as he claimed and hence lacked merit.
Reacting to the development shortly after the session, Lawyer to Emenike Ebete said it was a victory to Awara, stressing that the matter was earlier struck out by members of the election tribunal but was returned by the Court of Appeal to be tried on its merits.
He said that the judgment has given the petitioner grounds of appeal before the Supreme court and assured that it will be appealed.
Counsel to Governor Wike, Ferdinand Orbih a senior Advocate of Nigeria said judgment means that the victory of Governor has gotten judicial stamp.
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