PDP Denies Report On Abuja Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Ruling

PDP Denies Report On Abuja Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Ruling

The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP says report in some sections of the media about the ruling of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, striking out the motion on the eligibility of Dakuku Peterside of the APC to contest the 2015 Governorship Election, filed by the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Barr Nyesom Wike, is utterly false and misleading.

The State Chairman of the Party, Bro Felix Obuah in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, disclosed that the false report emanated from Dakuku Peterside of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who in his characteristic of spreading falsehood had also misled the State on the ruling of the National Industrial Court sitting in Bayelsa.

The PDP noted with regret that Dakuku Peterside, who has penchant for spreading falsehood, was not at the Tribunal and did not witness the proceeding on Wednesday, July 29, 2015, when the ruling was delivered.

What happened in the Tribunal, according to the PDP, was that “the Tribunal gave a terse ruling and said it was adopting its earlier ruling delivered on Monday, July 27, 2015; that it is properly constituted and thus has jurisdiction to hear the matter’’. The rest of the grounds and issues, including the 21 days mandatory notice were not decided. In the opinion of the Tribunal, the motion will be heard alongside the petition proper. 

The Tribunal did not rule on the motion of noncompliance with the mandatory 21 days notice as enshrined in the Electoral Act or the eligibility of Dakuku Peterside as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The Motion is still alive before the Tribunal, the PDP maintains.

The PDP explains that although, it is not shocked at this development, but it is concerned by the grave danger the actions of Mr. Peterside and the APC could cause to the peace and development achieved in Rivers State since the assumption of office by His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Wike as Governor of the State.

We reiterate the fact that this is one of the deliberate attempts by the APC to cause disaffection and undue anxiety in the State. Lies and propaganda have been the known antics of Mr. Dakuku and his master, Rotimi Amaechi, but we sincerely bring to the notice of the people that such widely circulated and sponsored media report making the around on the purported striking out of Governor Wike’s application challenging the eligibility of Dakuku Peterside is completely false, misleading and an affront to the Tribunal.

The PDP warns Dakuku Peterside and the APC to stop spreading falsehood, contending that no amount of propaganda and lies by the APC will change the mandate Rivers people willingly gave to Governor Nyesom Wike to govern Rivers State.

The Party therefore, calls on the people of Rivers State and indeed, all Nigerians to disregard such unfounded claim by Dakuku and the APC.

Signed:

Jerry Needam        

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity

To State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah

Thursday, July 30, 2015