The highest court of law in Nigeria, the Supreme court, has dismissed Governor Nyesom Wike's suit challenging the jurisdiction of t...
The highest court of law in Nigeria, the Supreme court, has dismissed Governor Nyesom Wike's suit challenging the jurisdiction of the Rivers state election petition tribunal that nullified his election as Rivers state Governor.
Nyesom Wike had taken the case to the apex court stating that the election tribunal should be holding proceedings in Rivers state instead of in Abuja. Therefore, it had no jurisdiction over matters concerning Rivers state. (It should be noted that the tribunal was moved to
Abuja over security concerns by an appeal court ruling; just like those of Adamawa, Borno, Akwa Ibom and Yobe states).
Ruling on the lawsuit, the supreme court held that the tribunal was properly constituted and had the jurisdiction to preside over the election petition brought by APC gubernatorial candidate in Rivers state, Dakuku Peterside. It also sided with the Appeal court's relocation of the tribunal to Abuja stating that the move was to protect members of the panel and as such, complied with the "doctrine of necessity". The seven judges of the supreme court were all in agreement with this ruling.
So, another bad luck for Wike. I almost feel sorry for him ("Almost" being the operational word here).
Let's see what his appeal against the tribunal's ruling would bring...
