The Rivers State Governorship Election petition, convened in Abuja, has rejected the petition submitted by the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, Beatrice Itubo.
She was challenging the victory of Simnalayi Fubara from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
After the announcement of Fubara as the victor in the March 18 governorship election, both the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with their respective candidates, submitted petitions to the tribunal.
Fubara secured 302,614 votes, defeating his closest rival Tonye Cole of the APC, who garnered 95,274 votes. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Senator Magnus Abe, and Itubo trailed behind in third and fourth places, with 46,981 and 22,224 votes, respectively.
On September 13, the tribunal reserved its judgment on Cole’s petition, which sought the annulment of Fubara’s victory. After the parties presented their final written arguments and made their case for or against the petition, the three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Cletus Emifonye, adjourned the matter for judgment.
However, in its ruling on the LP’s petition on Monday, the Justice Emifonye-led tribunal dismissed the petition, citing a lack of merit and the failure to substantiate the allegations made.
