Posted by By LINDSAY BARRETT on
Rivers State Governor, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, has again been dragged before the National Judicial Council, (NJC) by Chief Sergeant Awuse, a defeated gubernatorial flag bearer of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the last governorship election in Rivers.
Rivers State Governor, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, has again been dragged before the National Judicial Council, (NJC) by Chief Sergeant Awuse, a defeated gubernatorial flag bearer of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the last governorship election in Rivers.
According to his case on alleged denial of fair hearing by the election tribunal and court, the petitioner argued that the courts decision 'is flowed because it does not take into consideration the allegations of electoral irregularities and violation of his fundamental human rights.
In a three-page petition to the NJC, Awuse further submitted that the Supreme Court judgment in the matter only dealt with the issue of Governor Amaechi's right to represent his party, but failed to consider the issue of whether the election was properly conducted in the state.
On these grounds, he accused the tribunal and the Court of Appeal of deliberately undermining the process of delivering true justice to him in the matter.
He stated that the method of delivering the decision to reject any further hearing of his challenge to the elections especially from the Appeal Court was questionable.
He alleged among others that, 'the Rivers State governorship Election Petition Tribunal threw out my petition with the reason of lack of jurisdiction on the matter since the Supreme Court had ruled that Mr Chibuike Amaechi won the governorship primary election in PDP but was wrongly removed.
'Yes, the Apex court has agreed that he, Mr Chibuike Amaechi was wrongfully removed by his party, PDP, but I am challenging the degree of malpractices, rigging, allotment of votes and unlawful votes which the Independent National Electoral Commission committed on April 14, 2007."
Awuse insisted that 'the law cannot trade off these irregularities in favour of PDP governorship primary elections in Rivers State, if law is equity and fairness.
Among the reliefs being sought from the NJC, include an order, granting his (Awuse) right to challenge the conduct and outcome of the elections and be given the right to contest the governorship seat on a 'fair and equitable basis."