The Rivers State Chapter of the Labour Party has expressed interest, in pursuing the ruling of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, which upheld the election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Stating this while answering questions during an interview on a radio programme, the Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party in the State, Gogo Wellington, said the party is proceeding to the Court of Appeal to challenge Governor Fubara’s victory as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Wellington maintained that the LP still has a case to prove in the Court of Appeal, noting that the party has enough evidence to prove that the election was tainted by violence and irregularities.
According to the LP chieftain, the party was not surprised by the judgement, but the failure of the tribunal to rule based on all evidence produced at the court.
The Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja had on Monday, October 2, 2023, affirmed the election of Governor Fubara, while dismissing the petitions filed by other political parties, challenging his victory
Reacting to the development, the LP Chieftain said: “We wouldn’t say we are surprised with the ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal but we would say we are disappointed that all the facts and evidence produced in support of our case, the Petition Tribunal still decided that we failed to prove our case.
“We are still very confident that we have a case to prove that the election in Rivers State was marred by all forms of violence and malpractices. And that is unbecoming of any electoral conduct in the 21st century.
“Therefore we feel we have a very strong case to prove.
“To this end, we are proceeding to the Appeal Court to further challenge the elections that were held in Rivers State, as lacking in all the virtues that are supposed to produce a governor for a state like Rivers State.
“We are also challenging the qualification of Siminalayi Fubara to contest the gubernatorial election in Rivers State.” He added.
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