Tribunal sacks Speaker, 20 PDP Assembly Members in Rivers

RIVERS State election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, nullified the election of Owaji Ibani, speaker of the state house of assembly.


The tribunal also invalidated the election of 20 members of the legislative chamber, who were all elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ruling came exactly two days after the tribunal annulled the victory of Nyesom Wike as governor of the state and ordered fresh poll.

The tribunal, while delivering the judgment in the case of the lawmakers, cited cases of irregularities and violence among other electoral malpractices.

It ordered fresh elections to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill the new vacant seats.

Among those affected by the judgment were leader of the state assembly, Martins Amaewhule, representing Obio-Akpor constituency 1.

Also affected were Tai State Constitituency, Obio-Akpor constituencies one and two, Akuku-Toru one and two, Opobo Nkoro, Bonny, as well as Degeme, ONELGA One, Gokana constituencies one and two and Etche two constituency.