The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dakuku Peterside has praised the Court of Appeal for supporting the decision of the state elections petition tribunal to nullify the victory of Governor Nyesom Wike in the April 11 elections.
Peterside praises Appeal Court for nullifying governor’s election victory
The Court of Appeal reached its decision on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, and ordered Wike to vacate the office immediately.
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“I am happy that the Nigerian judiciary is rekindling hope in our electoral process and in our country generally. This is so because the judiciary is sending the right signal, particularly to those who perpetrate violence and fraud during elections,” Peterside said according to Punch.
“Never again will a people’s mandate be subverted so viciously by a violent and self-seeking few, all in the name of political contest. Members of our party and supporters were murdered in cold blood in their homes and campaign grounds for their political beliefs.
“We are happy that this injustice is currently being addressed by a credible institution like the judiciary. We pray never to experience the level of persecution, violence and deaths that characterised both the March and April elections in our state.
“Democracy is about freedom, equality and justice; so, everybody must join hands to defend it at all times. Our state will be great again if and only when we vote into public office, our sons and daughters who will not bring shame to us by their words and actions.
“We, members of the APC know the needs of our people as we fully appreciate the leadership crisis rocking our state today. You have sacrificed and waited all these agonising months for justice.
“Now, justice has come. I commend you and urge you to hold on a little more as we all march collectively towards entrenching the kind of leadership that would serve our overall interest irrespective of our political persuasions,” he added.
Wike announced after the ruling that he would head to the Supreme Court to enforce his mandate.
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