By Nwaorgu Faustinus
The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, said it
received with mixed feelings the Supreme Court judgment of Wednesday January 27, 2016 upholding the appeal by Governor Nyesom Wike against the annulment of his election as governor of Rivers State.
The party made this known in statement signed by its Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
The party recalled that the struggle to retrieve the mandates of their candidates including that of the governorship candidate, hijacked in the 2015 sham elections, led to various rulings by the election petition tribunals and Appeal Courts which annulled and ordered for the rerun elections for 22 State Assembly positions out of 32, all 3 Senatorial seats and 12 out of 13 House of Representatives seats.
“Ordinarily, such large-scale annulment should have logically led to
upholding the annulment of the governorship election as pronounced by the Tribunal and the Appeal Court. Unfortunately, the earlier
decisions of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and that of
the Appeal Court annulling the election of the Rivers State Governor, Barr Nyesom Wike was upturned by the Supreme Court of Nigeria yesterday.
While we are neither applauding nor condemning the decision
of the apex court, we can only give thanks and adoration to God
Almighty whose wisdom surpasses that of man” the APC said.
The APC thanked all their candidates in the race for Senatorial, House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly rerun elections and urged them to remain steadfast, resilient and work hard alongside the party to ensure that the party win all the forthcoming rerun elections.
The party also appreciated its leadership at all levels for showing
uncommon courage, resilience and unity since inception to date. Same appreciation goes to our esteemed and loyal followership who have resisted impunity, temptation and enticement to remain resolute in service to the APC. It is our belief that whatever appears to be a setback now is only temporary as we will soon re-assert our pride of place in the political milieu of Rivers State and Nigeria. It must surely end in praise!
The party called on their members across Rivers State especially
survivors of those who lost their loved ones before, during and after
the 2015 electoral violence that the justice we sought to put a
closure to their pains and losses, though denied us by man, will still
be granted by the ultimate judge, God Himself, adding that He would
prove that those who paid the ultimate price did not do so in vain
because he is the God of justice.
The APC promised to continue to play the role of a responsible
opposition party in Rivers State by protecting the peoples’ common
interests and provide the bridge between our people and the APC
Federal Government.
“We call on all our brothers and sisters who recently saw the light
and joined us to serve our people to know that they made the right
decision as we all will create and enhance a working synergy that will
transcend the present times in service to our people.
“Finally, I urge all members of the APC in Rivers State to remain
calm, focussed and ready for the task ahead of us as party leaders and supporters at our various units, LGAs and the State. In all things, they should continue to give God all glory and adorations as that which is ahead is greater than that behind us” the statement
added.
