The Supreme Court has come up with reasons for its verdict affirming the election on Nyesom Wike as the validly elected Governor of Rivers state. Our judiciary correspondent, Basil Okafor reports that the crux of the judgment of the court is that the trial tribunal and the lower Appeal court were wrongly swayed by INEC guideline on the use of card readers for the election.
The Apex Court panel of justices held that the tribunal was wrong to base its judgment of non compliance on the use of card readers. The panel while commending INEC for introduction of the card readers is saying that the innovation cannot supersede the voters register. It observes that extant laws of the federation provides for the use of voters register but the card reader irrespective of its importance does not have a place in any extant law of the land.
The court is also advising INEC to approach the national assembly for an amendment to incorporate the use of card readers. On the issue of allegation of violence and hijacking of ballot box, the court held that Dakuku Peterside failed to bring in witnesses from all the polling units to substantiate his claims.
