Following the nullification of the April 11 governorship election in Rivers State, the candidates have returned to the drawing board. BISI OLANIYI writes on the battle ahead between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southsouth state.
The prelude to the governorship battle in Rivers State was the frosty relationship between the former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the All progressives Congress (APC) and his former Chief of Staff, Nyesom Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Amaechi and Wike are Ikwerre. The people spread across (Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Ikwerre and Emohua) local government areas.
The former Rivers governor hails from Ubima, while Wike is an indigene of Rumueprikom. Both are the Rivers East Senatorial District..
Ahead of the general elections, Amaechi declared that, to ensure justice, equity and fairness in the multi-ethnic state, his successor should come from outside Ikwerreland or another senatorial district, having been governor for eight years and Speaker of the House of Assembly for eight years (1999-2007).
Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, however, insisted that it was his constitutional right to contest in the PDP, thereby drawing the battle line.
Former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, emerged as the standard bearer of the APC. During the campaigns members of the APC were either killed or injured.
The governorship election on April 11, 2015 was like a war, making the international observers, who monitored the poll, to describe it as a sham, in view of the massive rigging, violence, intimidation of voters and multiple thumb-printing.
The candidate of the PDP was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in spite of the fact that many eligible voters could not exercise their franchise.
Wike and the Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, maintained that the election was free, fair, credible and peaceful..
The Rivers APC and Peterside decided to file petition at the tribunal against the PDP, its governorship candidate and the INEC.
To ensure the safety of the judges, lawyers, litigants and others, the venue was moved from Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, to Abuja.
After some months of fireworks by counsel to the petitioners and respondents, written addresses were adopted on October 22, with the date to deliver judgment not indicated, in view of the indefinite adjournment, with a promise to later get across to various counsel.
The tribunal eventually delivered judgment on October 24, nullifying the election over irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, thereby ordering fresh election within 90 days.
It was celebration galore for APC members and Peterside’s supporters in Abuja, Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers state.
Wike, however, declared that he would appeal the judgment and pursue the matter to the Supreme Court, describing the judgment as a gang-up against Rivers people.
He said: “I am still the governor of Rivers State. Our lawyers are going on appeal. We are all going on appeal. There is also the Supreme Court.
“They can say anything, but Rivers people’s interest must be protected. Nobody will intimidate me to abandon this state. If they like, let them summon the justices as they have been doing. But one day, God’s own pronouncement will come.”
Amaechi attributed the verdict to the God’s wish.
Amaechi revealed that with the sack of his successor (Wike) by the tribunal, he suddenly realised that there is God, stressing that he (Amaechi) was always reluctant to come to Port Harcourt, because he had no house to sleep.
As the Rivers governor and his supporters were praising God on Stadium Road, Wike mobilised people from the state’s 23 LGAs to the Dr. Obi Wali International Convention Centre in Port Harcourt to pray.
The ex-NGF chairman said: “If you thought we won (at tribunal) by our own strength, then you are not godly. You are not a Christian. Imagine the kind of money they (Wike and allies) were willing to pay. You can pay all the money you want to pay, if Christ says it is not your turn, it will not be your turn.
“It is not yet time for celebration. Even if you win at the Supreme Court, it is not yet time for celebration. We did not even know that they fixed Saturday for judgment. Before, the other group (Wike’s) were not used to God, they were not going to church. Suddenly, they have realised that there is God. Our God is a merciful God.
“If we ask God to show us His mercy, they can take billions of naira to anywhere they want to go, God will answer our prayers. When we were fighting to be governor in 2007, we did not have money. They had money and they were carrying it around and we won. This is not a new path. We had passed it before. As you praise God, you must also be practical. Go home and organise your wards, Continue to focus on APC’s activities.
“It is those projects that I have done that they (Wike and allies) are driving on. This Stadium Road was dualised by my government. The drainage is underground. I never built gutter, until I left office. They are now building gutter and covering it. Check the difference.”
Amaechi also noted that he borrowed N300 billon, and paid N245 billion. He said Wike’s government was not borrowing to pay contractors, but borrowing for personal expenses.
The former NGF chairman stated that Wike’s administration borrowed N45 billion, but not seen, noting that pumping N45 billion into the economy, Port Harcourt would be dancing, contractors would be working, more workers would be employed, schools would open and people would pay fees.
The Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ikanya, described the tribunal’s judgment as a victory for democracy, the rule of law and a vindication of the party’s stance that there was no election in Rivers. He said that no magic could sustain Wike’s appeal.
Ikanya said party decided not to resort to self help, in view of their confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Ikanya said: “We welcome the judgment of the tribunal. We have been vindicated in our persistent position that the election in Rivers State was a sham and that INEC erred in declaring Wike governor.
“There is no way that Wike can beat our candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, in a free and fair election. Despite the malfeasance of a few, the Nigerian judiciary is still made up men and women of impeccable character, who cherish their good name, character and hallowed profession.
“Wike prides in his ability and capacity to compromise any living member of the judiciary in Nigeria. He claims that everyone has a price, but we have also taken notice of his failed attempts to reach out to the incorruptible Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), which was a disaster, because the CJN is beyond Wike’s compromising influence.
“For us in the APC, we will continue to believe and trust in the transparency and forthrightness of the members of the Nigerian judiciary. We believe that the antics and machinations of a few persons, such as Nyesom Wike, are not enough to tarnish the impeccable records of our distinguished men and women of the bench in Nigeria.”
Peterside described the tribunal’s verdict as victory, not just for democracy, but also for justice and the rule of law.
He said: “This judgment is resounding, because at last, we are vindicated. The journey, no doubt was tortuous, but the suffering was worthwhile. It also shows that perseverance pays. This judgment no doubt also shows that we must continue to have faith in our judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
“Under the last administration, our people suffered all forms of indignities, because of their political leaning. Democracy is essentially about freedom and we must never, under any circumstance, lose our freedom again.
“This verdict has put a nail on the coffin of electoral rascality, electoral violence, election fraud and impunity. It has restored the faith of the resilient people of Rivers State in the electoral process as a fair means of choosing leaders. I particularly thank the people of Rivers State for their resilience throughout this period.
“Let us all join hands with the Muhammadu Buhari-led government as it tackles impunity, incompetence, unemployment and all the vices that remind us of the sorry story of our recent history. Surely, Rivers State is on the march again and we must all lend our support”
Peterside also congratulated the people for standing up to impunity, executive rascality and intimidation of the highest order.
He said while Rivers people would be looking forward to a fair contest, they should be calm and to continue to pray for the state.
The Director-General of Peterside’s Greater Together Campaign Organisation, Chief Victor Tombari Giadom, declared that the rascality of the members of the PDP would no longer be condoned.
Giadom said the judgment confirmed that God is supreme. He thanked the judges for the fearless judgment and lauded Rivers people for their continuous support, assuring that Peterside, upon becoming governor, would deliver real dividends of democracy to them.
The Rivers governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), during the April 11, 2015 election, Prince Tonye Princewill, declared that there was no need to appeal the tribunal’s judgment.
Princewill said: “Even as it (tribunal’s judgment) might have come as a surprise to many neutral observers, it was no surprise to me, my supporters and many Rivers people, who came out on that fateful day to try and cast their votes.
“Even PDP supporters, I am sure in their hearts, knew that the day would come. Like I said to my supporters on that election day that justice would prevail and the truth would come out. If the APC legal team could not prove that there was no election in Rivers State (on April 11, 2015), nobody could. It was that obvious.
“I will like to thank all the judges (of the tribunal) for upholding the law, the parties for conducting their briefs with civility and the people of Rivers State for surviving this period. If I was the PDP, I would not even bother to appeal this judgment. I would rather head for the court of public opinion. Ultimately that is where this matter will end. Why delay?”
The LP’s governorship candidate also expressed optimism that the electorate’s votes would count during the fresh election, adding: “Do unto others, as you wish they do unto you. What goes around does come around,” while admonishing his supporters not to take the law into their own hands, but to remain calm and be peaceful..
The Rivers chairman of the PDP, however, condemned the tribunal’s judgment, claiming that it was “compromised,” describing it as a travesty of justice and a rape on democracy.
Obuah said: “No matter the degree of conspiracy by the APC-led Federal Government, the falsehood and gang-up against Rivers people will amount to a nullity, at the end.
“I urge Rivers people not to panic over the pre-empted judgment, which had been decided long before the written addresses by the parties were adopted Thursday, October 22, 2015. Section 143, Sub-Section 1 of the Electoral Act 2010 guarantees an elected governor to stay in office and continue to execute his duties, as long as a notice of appeal is given against the judgment within 21 days, from the date of the judgment.
“This is one tribunal judgment that will never stand. PDP will get to any legal height possible to fight the injustice. There is no other reason why the tribunal hurriedly delivered the contraption it called judgment, in less than 24 hours after adopting the written addresses on a matter that lasted over four months, than to pre-empt the judgment of the Supreme Court against the tribunal by the PDP, which comes up on October 27..
“The good thing is that by the hurried judgment, the tribunal chairman has exposed his partiality and shot himself in the leg by defying all legal procedures and going ahead to deliver judgment on the APC’s petition, when there is an impending matter hinging on the appeal at the Supreme Court, just as he refused to vacate his seat as chairman of the election petitions tribunal for the state governorship election petitions, despite PDP’s resentment on questions of integrity and impartiality. In the end, we shall have the last laugh.”
Obuah also insisted that the tribunal’s judgment was compromised, but urged the PDP members to remain calm.
APC’s candidate for the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe, however, described the nullification of the Rivers governorship election at the tribunal as a justification for the struggle of the members of the party in the state and vindication for justice.
Abe said: “We have always maintained our confidence that there are judges in Nigeria, who will deliver justice to Rivers people.
“All well-meaning Rivers people, especially the supporters of the APC, must be steadfast that victory is sure. They will have the opportunity to exercise their franchise, which was earlier denied them.”
The former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (Abe) also stated that the truth had come to limelight that indeed no election took place in Rivers State, with Nigerians now in a better position to tell the world the whole truth.
The senator lauded the leader of the APC in Rivers state (Amaechi) and Peterside on the success, stressing that change had come to stay in the state.
The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, also warned troublemakers who might want to capitalise on the nullification of the Rivers governorship election, to stay away from the state, with security already beefed up and policemen on alert.
The police chief also maintained that he would not condone lawlessness and breakdown of law and order..
Kimo said: “You are all aware of the situation in Rivers State, following the tribunal’s nullification of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Rivers State. The police under my watch are not resting on our oars. We are poised. We are out on show of force, to ensure that lives and property of Rivers people are protected.
“I have warned that everybody should be law abiding, to ensure that we have peace. So far, I want to commend the good people of Rivers State for being civil, calm, law abiding and for being peaceful.
“For now, there is no reported case of any uncivilised and anti-social and unscrupulous behaviour, as a result of this nullification. So, I want to applaud, I want to commend the good people of Rivers State, for the good conduct. I urge them to continue to be law abiding, even as we are out on show of force.
“I’ve directed all the Area Commanders, the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and the Squadron Commanders to be vigilant, on alert and ensure we checkmate any nauseating or excruciating activity by miscreant, but for now, everywhere is calm. We pray and hope that it continues. We are out. We are synergising with other security agencies to ensure there is peace and tranquillity now and beyond.”
The tribunal judgment’s implications for Rivers state are numerous, including the fact that if the police and other security agencies do not regularly get involved in show of force, militants, cultists and thugs might let loose and unleash mayhem.
Members of the two dominant political parties – APC and PDP – and their supporters, during the eventual fresh election will have the opportunity of exercising their franchise, but must now be preparing for campaigns and sensitising the electorate..
There can only be development in an atmosphere of peace. Politicians and their supporters should not heat up the polity. The electorate must be allowed to vote and their votes must count, in order to sustain democracy and move the nation forward.
