The Supreme Court has opted to reserve judgment in the appeal filed by Patrick Tonye-Cole, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the victory of Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in the March 18, 2023, governorship election.
Tonye-Cole’s appeal follows the dismissal of his case by the Appeal Court on November 28, citing a lack of sufficient and convincing evidence. The APC governorship candidate alleges irregularities, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and Fubara’s purported continuation of signing documents as the Rivers State’s Accountant-General even after his nomination as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The five-member panel at the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, reserved judgment after all parties involved in the suit presented and adopted their briefs of arguments. The decision to reserve judgment implies that a ruling will be delivered at a later date after careful consideration of the presented arguments.
The apex court also addressed another case during the proceedings, dismissing the appeal of Innocent Kere of the Allied People’s Movement (APM). The dismissal followed the withdrawal of the appeal by Kere’s counsel. The developments in the Supreme Court underscore the ongoing legal challenges arising from the 2023 governorship election in Rivers State.
