Tribunal dismisses LP’s petition challenging Fubara’s victory

The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the appeal submitted by Beatrice Itubo, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State, challenging the election of Simnalayi Fubara of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Following Fubara’s announcement as the victor of the March 18 governorship election, the LP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with their candidates, petitioned the tribunal.

Fubara received 302,614 votes to defeat APC candidate Tonye Cole, who received 95,274 votes, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Senator Magnus Abe, and Itubo received 46,981 and 22,224 votes, respectively.

On September 13, the tribunal reserved judgement on Cole’s petition attempting to overturn Fubara’s victory.

After the parties adopted their final written addresses and stated their arguments for and against the petition, the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Cletus Emifonye, adjourned the matter for judgement.

However, in its decision on the LP’s petition on Monday, the Justice Emifonye-led tribunal dismissed it for lack of merit and failure to prove their charges.

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