JUST-IN; Jubilation As Tribunal Delivers Ruling On Labour Party’s Petition Challenging Fubara’s Victory

The Rivers State Governorship Election petition, held in Abuja, has rejected the petition brought forth by the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, Beatrice Itubo.

She was contesting the election of Simnalayi Fubara from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

After Fubara was declared the victor of the March 18 governorship election, both the LP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – along with their respective candidates – filed a petition with the tribunal.

Fubara secured 302,614 votes, defeating Tonye Cole of the APC, who garnered 95,274 votes. Senator Magnus Abe of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Itubo trailed behind with 46,981 and 22,224 votes, respectively.

On September 13, the tribunal reserved judgment on Cole’s petition seeking the annulment of Fubara’s victory.

The three-member tribunal, presided over by Justice Cletus Emifonye, deferred the case for judgment following the final submissions and arguments presented by the parties.

However, in its ruling on the LP’s petition on Monday, the tribunal, led by Justice Emifonye, dismissed the petition on the grounds of lacking merit and failing to substantiate their allegations.