Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja , Nigeria
The Supreme Court of Nigeria, headquartered in Abuja, is scheduled to convene on January 15, 2024, to address the petition filed by Patrick Tonye-Cole, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State during the 2023 general elections.
Tonye-Cole’s petition targets the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Truth Live News gathered that among the claims presented by Tonye-Cole is an assertion that Governor Fubara should be dismissed from office for his failure to resign as the Accountant General of the state after securing the PDP candidacy. Furthermore, Tonye-Cole contends that Fubara was not eligible to participate in the election, let alone be declared the victor.
The APC candidate is also urging the court to either annul elections in specific local government areas due to alleged irregularities or declare him the rightful winner of the contested election. Although Tonye-Cole’s suit was initially dismissed at the tribunal for lacking merit across all grounds, he secured victories in some aspects at the Court of Appeal before advancing to the Supreme Court.
The upcoming Supreme Court ruling is fraught with uncertainty, given the prevailing fluctuations in judgments between pre-election matters and constitutional issues. Concerns among netizens have been raised regarding the potential influence of the recent discord between the current governor and his predecessor on the court’s decision.
Speculations abound about the close ties between the ex governor and the judiciary, as well as federal support. However, some dismiss these concerns as typical rhetoric from opposition politicians.
Patrick Tonye-Cole, a prominent figure in Rivers State and an oil magnate, adds a notable dimension to the unfolding legal drama, making this case a focal point of attention for both residents and political observers in the region.