Court of Appeal Sacks All PDP Senators from Rivers

The Court of Appeal sitting Abuja today has annulled the election all 3 Rivers state senators who contested the March 28 national assembly election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Senators  George Sekibo, who represents Rivers east; Olaka Wogu, Rivers southeast; and Osinakachukwu Ideozu, Rivers west had their elections declared to have had irregularities. The Rivers state national assembly tribunal had upheld the election of the three senators, but the court of appeal considered the judgment of the lower court to be in error.

The Court of Appeal judges  ruled that a fresh election be conducted in the senatorial districts – Rivers southeast and west – within 60 days because the previous election was marred by irregularities. The general election in Rivers state had been subject of controversies, owing to the outbreak of violence during the exercise.

The Rivers governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja in October had sacked Nyesom Wike, and ordered that a fresh election be held in the state within 90 days. Wike has appealed against the judgment, but the court of appeal is yet to deliver a ruling on case.