Many months of ceaseless litigations and heightened political fever which had gripped Rivers State finally came to an end on Thursday 25th of January 2024 with the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s Judgment which affirmed incumbent Governor Siminialayi Fubara as the duly elected executive Governor of Rivers State. The appeal filed by All Progressives Congress APC Rivers State Governorship candidate Tonye Dele Cole was dismissed in its entirety.
A press statement issued by Darlington Nwauju Spokesman of Rivers State APC titled “SUPREME COURT VERDICT ON RIVERS GUBER: THE END OF A RACE AND BEGINNING OF A JOURNEY” actually narrated the painful Journey the political party went through in it’s struggle to occupy Brick House Port Harcourt, the seat of political power in the state. According to Mr. Nwauju “The Supreme Court of Nigeria today(Thursday )brought the 10 months old struggle over the rightful occupant of the Governorship seat of Rivers State to an end. We salute the courage of our candidate, Pastor (Arch) Tonye Cole mni for exercising his rights under the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
We all know it is the final court of the land and there must necessarily be an end to litigations. We are extremely grateful and indebted to our solid followership for their textbook resilience and extraordinary courage in the face of temptations and trials. We ran an election in the face of draconian Executive Orders, intimidation from institutions that should ordinarily be neutral.
We thank the Nigerian media for coming to our aid and reporting the countless infractions, which included the bombing of our campaign venue at Rumuwoji, assault and arrest of our supporters, party leaders and even candidates. For example, Chief Emeka Eddeh (PHALGA Constituency 1 Assembly candidate), Osorochi Amadi (Ikwerre LGA Party Secretary) to mention but a few were illegally detained on the eve of election. Mr Okorinama West (Asari-Toru Constituency 2 Assembly candidate) had his vehicle shattered by bullets of gunmen in a failed assasination attempt.
The height of these unprovoked attacks was the killing in broad daylight of one of our local government Campaign Coordinators, Mr Chiosom Lennard Tabele and three others namely, Esor Godspower Ajahu, Okpara Chienyere, Goodnews Michael Okpara who were killed in Ahoada-West LGA on election day. Sadly, no single arrest has been made till date and security agencies seem to have swept these heinous incidences under the carpet.
Going forward we congratulate the Governor of the state, H.E Siminalayi Joseph Fubara on his affirmation by the Supreme Court of Nigeria and call on him to immediately begin a genuine process of healing and reconciliation by (a) immediately setting-up an independent panel to identify victims of electoral violence across the 23 LGAs inorder to appropriately/adequately compensate all victims of election-related violence in Rivers State irrespective of their political party affiliation; (b) work with all political parties in the greater interest of our state.
We appeal to our numerous supporters across the state to await further directives as the leadership and critical stakeholders consult on the way forward.” The Rivers State APC chapter has been in a State of political opposition since 2015 to date where Dr. Adol Dakuku Peterside contested the 2015 Governorship election while Pastor Tonye Dele Cole in 2019 was stopped by Supreme Court consent judgment which stopped all parties in the litigations from participating in that election.
Currently, faction of Rivers State chapter of APC are operating under the influence and control of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike through Caretaker Committee Chairman Honourable Tony Okocha whereas Chief Emeka Bekee is also representing the faction with former Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State Rt. Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
So, with the political crisis abating and the characters involved in the political crisis retreating from the battle ground, Governor Siminialayi Fubara is seeking for a state where all politians who contested election against him will come together and build a Rivers State that the upcoming generations will be proud of. Peoples Democratic Party PDP is now firmly in charge of the state Government led by Sir Siminialayi Fubara.
-Emeka Amaefula
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