SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS FUBARA AS RIVERS GOVERNOR

In a decisive blow to challenger Tonye Cole, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has today upheld the election of Siminalayi Fubara as Governor of Rivers State. The unanimous judgment by a five-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun effectively cemented Fubara’s mandate and put an end to months of legal wrangling.

Cole, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had appealed the outcome of the March 18, 2023 governorship election, alleging irregularities and Fubara’s ineligibility to contest due to his resignation from his previous position. However, the Supreme Court found these claims lacked merit.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa stated that the “court found no reason to dislodge the concurrent verdicts of the Court of Appeal and the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld Fubara’s victory at the poll.”

Furthermore, the apex court ruled that Cole failed to prove the election was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. This effectively dismissed any doubts about the legitimacy of Fubara’s win.

This verdict puts an end to a period of uncertainty and paves the way for Governor Fubara to move forward with his mandate. The decision also reinforces the authority of the Nigerian judiciary in upholding the integrity of the electoral process.

While Cole may choose to pursue further legal avenues, the Supreme Court’s ruling is a significant victory for Fubara and his supporters. It allows him to govern without the shadow of legal challenges and focus on addressing the needs of the Rivers State people.

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Source: Jordan105.5fm News Bulletin.