The Supreme Court has put an end to the legal battle surrounding the Rivers State governorship election, dismissing an appeal by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Tonye Cole. Cole had challenged the victory of his opponent, Siminalayi Fubara, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging irregularities in the polls and questioning Fubara’s eligibility due to his alleged failure to properly resign from his previous position before running for governor.
The apex court’s decision, delivered on Thursday, throws a lifeline to Fubara’s administration, solidifying his hold on the governor’s seat.
Reading the lead judgment, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa dismissed Cole’s appeal.
The five-man panel in a unanimous decision held that the appellant failed to prove his allegations that there was non-compliance with the Electoral Act during the election.
The dismissal effectively closes the door on Cole’s legal avenues to contest the election outcome.
This verdict brings to a close a prolonged chapter of electoral uncertainty in Rivers State, a region often riddled with political tensions. Both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to which Fubara belongs, have historically engaged in fierce contests for political control in the state.