Rivers APC hails Apex Court's verdict

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict on Gov. Nyesom Wike’s application challenging the relocation of the Rivers Election Petitions Tribunal from Port Harcourt to Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Apex Court had dismissed Wike’s suit challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the petition of APC’s governorship candidate in the April 11 poll, Dakuku Peterside.

Mr Chris FineBone, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, said in a statement in Port Harcourt that the apex court had affirmed that the tribunal’s sitting was moved to Abuja because of insecurity.

"As a party, the APC is grateful that all seven eminent jurists of the Supreme Court unanimously agreed that there was sufficient violence before, during and after the elections to justify the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja.’’

It also commended the reason for the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja which was to safeguard the lives of the tribunal chairman, members and witnesses.

The statement said that the party was happy with the observation of the court that Rivers State was "a theatre of war’’ and as such protection of lives of members of the panel and interested parties was paramount.

The APC also noted with satisfaction that the justices for once again re-affirmed that they were always ready to dispense justice without fear or favour.

"The significance of all seven eminent justices of the Supreme Court speaking in one voice in today’s judgment is that the faith, hope and confidence of the ordinary Nigerian to get justice is assured in the Nigerian judicial system.’’