How Supreme Court averted war in Rivers

The judgment of the Supreme Court in Abuja on Wednesday which upheld the election of Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has saved the state from the looming threat bloodbath in the state.

In an earlier investigation by National Daily, some political hawks in the Niger Delta, both in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were revealed to have embarked on extra-political activities of mobilizing forces for violence in anticipation that the Supreme Court will uphold the nullification of Wike’s election and the conduct of fresh election in Rivers State as decided by the Appellate Court. Subsequently, there were reports of several communities in three local government areas in Rivers State being under siege of alleged joint military and Police invasion with noticeable shootings.

In the midst of the purported military siege in the reported communities, some militant leaders were also disclosed to have warned against the continued military action in those communities, threatening to engage the security operatives if the action had continued. The militants and some stakeholders in Rivers State had accused APC leaders in the state of purportedly using security agencies against arm less citizens.

National Daily had, then, indicated that only the Supreme Court can avert the deepening threat of violence in Rivers State after the experience in Bayelsa State during the governorship election.

Meanwhile, the apex court, in a unanimous decision by the judges, set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which annulled Wike’s election in its ruling on December 16, 2015 and ordered a fresh election within 90 days. The Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal had earlier nullified Wike’s election in the April 11, 2016, governorship election, a judgment that was upheld by the Appellate Court.

The apex court, however, reserved details of the judgment, indicating that the Presiding Judge will read the full judgment on Friday, February 12, 2016.

However, the streets of Port Harcourt and major towns in Rivers State have been thrown into ecstasy and wild celebrations since the pronouncement of the Supreme Court which restored Wike’s electoral victory.