Rivers: Appeal Court Sacks SDP Lawmaker, Orders INEC To Issue Certificate Of Return To PDP Candidate
The Rivers State Election Petition Appeal has sacked the lawmaker representing Asari-Toru Constituency One, Ipalibo George, of the Social Democratic Party and replaced him with Tekenari Wellington of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt said the PDP candidate, Wellington polled the highest number of lawful votes in the March 9 election in Asari-Toru.
Justice Uche Jumbo-Offor, while delivering the verdict, upheld the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal in Port Harcourt which removed Ipalibo George from seat.
Justice Jumbo-Offor held that with the evidence available in court, Tekenari Wellington polled the highest number of votes in the election and ordered INEC to issue him the Certificate of Return immediately.
Speaking with newsmen, counsel to the PDP candidate, Dike Udenna, said the judgement affirmed the argument that the Peoples Democratic Party dominated the last election in Rivers State.
He added that, “The Court has simply upheld the judgement of the Election Tribunal that my client, Tekenari, actually polled the highest number of lawful votes in the last elections.
“We were able to prove to the court that the SDP candidate was unpopular and could not have defeated my client.
“So, the Court has ordered INEC to issue him his Certificate and for the Rivers State House of Assembly to swear him in immediately.”
