Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Wednesday said he disagreed with the Court of Appeal’s decision on his election and instructed his lawyers to appeal the judgement at the Supreme Court.
Wike’s position is contained in a statement issued by Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, the Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media in Port Harcourt.
The Court of Appeal on Wednesday upheld the judgment of Rivers Governorship Election Tribunal that nullified the April 11 Governorship Election and ordered a fresh poll.
A three-man Appeal Court panel led by Justice M.B. Dongban-Mensem, had ruled that Wike’s election did not conform to the Electoral Act.
The panel ordered a fresh election within 90 days and asked the governor to vacate the seat immediately.
The tribunal headed by Justice Suleiman Ambrosa had in a judgment on October 24 voided Wike’s election and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election in Rivers State.
According to Nwakaudu’s statement, the governor disagrees with the Appeal Court, hence his decision to exhaust his constitutional right by challenging the judgment at the Supreme Court.
The statement, however, said that Wike called on all his supporters and the people of state to remain calm as justice would be done at the end of day.
”Wike assured the people of the state that he would use all constitutional processes to protect the mandate they freely bestowed on him which informed his decision to approach the Supreme Court for further adjudication.
”The governor said that he still remained the duly elected governor of Rivers State pending the determination of his appeal by the Supreme Court,” the statement said.
Wike gave assurance that all on-going development projects in the state would continue and that his administration would continue to promote the security of lives and property.
Reacting to the verdict, Chief Austin Opara, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and a chieftain of the PDP, supported Wike position.
According to Opara, the Court of Appeal judgement is against the mandate of Rivers people.
