Rivers Assembly Speaker, 20 Other Lawmakers Sacked By Tribunal

The Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja
yesterday nullified the victory of 21 out of the 32 members of the
state House of Assembly.

Top on the list of the sacked legislators is the Speaker of the State
House of Assembly, Hon Owaji Ibani from Andoni constituency.

The nullification of the Rivers lawmakers came barely two days after
another tribunal nullified the election that brought Governor Nyesom
Wike into power as the state governor.

The tribunal cited cases of irregularities and violence among other
electoral malpractices which warranted the nullification of the
lawmakers' election.

Other constituencies where PDP candidates' elections were nullified
are Gokana, Eleme, Obio/Akpor I and II, Eleme, Etche II, Opobo/Nkoro,
Akukutoru I and II, Asari Toru – and II, Bonny, Tai, Onelga I, Degema,
Khana Iand II, Port Harcourt II and Ikwerre.

The tribunal further directed that fresh elections should be conducted
to fill the vacant seats.

The tribunal ordered fresh elections to be conducted in the 20 constituencies.

But the elections of the PDP candidates were upheld by the tribunal in
11 constituencies which are Oyigbo, Etche I, Omuma, Ogu-Bolo, Port
Harcourt I and III, ONELGa II, Abua/Odua, Ahoada West, Ahoada East II
and Emuoha.

Earlier in the preliminary stage, the tribunal had upheld the election
of PDP candidate in Okrika constituency.

It is yet uncertain what will happen next since the remaining 11
legislators would not be able form a quorum for the state's
legislative businesses.

But indications have emerged that the affected legislators will appeal
the judgement.

-Leadership