Governor Siminalayi Fubara (left) and his challenger, Mr Patrick Tonye-Cole
The Supreme Court on Monday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Patrick Tonye-Cole, against Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s victory in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
Recall that Tonye-Cole had approached the Supreme Court against the November 28, 2023, decision of the Appeal Court, which observed that his appeal against the judgement of the governorship election tribunal, lacked sufficient and convincing evidence against Rivers State Governor Fubara.
The APC governorship candidate’s contention is that of irregularities, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and Fubara’s continued signing of documents as the Rivers State’s Accountant-General after his nomination as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Tonye-Cole’s appeal is against the Electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the PDP, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
A five-member panel headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun reserved judgment on the appeal after all parties in the suit adopted their briefs of arguments. The apex court also dismissed the appeal of Innocent Kere of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) after it was withdrawn by his counsel.
