Supreme Court upholds Nyesom Wike’s election as Rivers Governor

Supreme Court upholds the election of Nyesom Wike, age 48, of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor of the oil-rich Rivers State.
The reason for the judgement is to be listed on February 12.
Giving the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, set aside the judgement of the Appeal Court which nullified the election of Governor Wike. It is a unanimous judgement by a seven-man panel  of the apex court. The Court of Appeal had on December 16  affirmed the judgement of the Rivers Governorship Election Tribunal.
The appeal court had  ruled that Mr. Wike was not validly elected. The Rivers Tribunal had earlier on October 24 nullified Mr. Wike’s election.
The tribunal, which delivered its ruling in Abuja, also ordered that a fresh governorship election be conducted in the state.

After the tribunal’s ruling, the governor headed to the Court of Appeal, saying the judgement was untenable.
The petition challenging the election of Mr. Wike as Rivers State Governor was filed by Dakuku Peterside, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in the election.
The Rivers governorship election, which was criticised by local and international observers, witnessed the largest amount of violence both in its build-up and after the elections.
. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike is a Nigerian lawyer, politician and present Governor of Nigeria's oil-rich Rivers State. He is an Ikwerre from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party