DEGEMA COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, MICHAEL WILLIAMS DEFEATS LABOUR PARTY CANDIDATE, AS TRIBUNAL UPHOLDS VICTORY OF PDP IN APRIL 17 LG ELECTION
The Chairmanship Candidate of the Labour Party, ODOYE ELEKIMA has lost his bid to nullify the victory of MICHAEL JOHN-WILLIAMS of the People’s Democratic Party in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State in the last April 17 Local government election.
Upon the declaration of MICHAEL JOHN-WILLIAMS as the winner of the chairmanship position in Degema LGA, ODOYE ELEKIMA approached the State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal, challenging the victory of the PDP candidate.
ODOYE ELEKIMA alleged that no election held in Degema LGA on 17th of April and prayed the Tribunal to upturn the victory and order a fresh election.
However, when the matter came up today, Tuesday August 10 for judgement, the Tribunal upheld the victory of the PDP and its candidate.
The three man Panel led by Chief Magistrate, RITA OGUGUO thereby struck out ODOYE’s petition for incompetence and lacking in marit, declaring that MICHAEL JOHN-WILLIAMS was dully elected as declared and returned by RSIEC.
Ruling on both the preliminary objections by the respondents Counsels and the substantive case, Chief Magistrate RITA OGUGUO, who read the ruling of the Tribunal,
said the petitioner violated session 17, (1, b) of the Local Government Election Tribunal Law 2000.
The Tribunal agreed with the argument of the respondents Counsels, who are RSIEC, the PDP and its candidate and others that the petitioner did not prove that election did not hold in the whole LGA.
The Tribunal also picked hole in the inability of the petitioner to present witnesses to prove his claim and thereby dismissed the suit with cost of one hundred thousand naira against the petitioner, ODOYE.
Speaking to BraveViews correspondent outside the courtroom, Counsel to MICHAEL JOHN-WILLIAMS the first respondent, TINA DOUGLAS-JAJA hailed delivered judgment.
On his part, Counsel to the petitioner, D.S AMEH said they would study the judgement and seek the consent of his client on the next line of action.