Appeal Court to Rule on Rivers Governorship Poll Petition

A Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal will deliver judgment today in the governorship election petition filed by the APC candidate in Rivers State, Patrick Tonye-Cole, challenging the outcome won by the PDP’s Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Tonye-Cole is seeking an order directing INEC to declare him winner based on claims that Fubara was still holding the role of Accountant-General after being nominated by PDP. Irregularities are also alleged in the March poll.

The appeal stems from Tonye-Cole’s insistence that the election was flawed and he garnered the requisite votes, not the declared winner. Final submissions were adopted just two weeks ago.

With the key ruling due from the appellate court, its decision will provide clarity on the validity of the Rivers governorship election result and determine if a different outcome is warranted based on Tonye-Cole’s petitions and evidence presented.