Chief of Army Staff representative discredits APC at Rivers Tribunal

*says Army, Security Agencies did not assist PDP in rigging goveenorship election

*says he did not witness illegal thumb printing

Plot by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai to help the Rivers State APC Governorship Candidate, Dakuku Peterside at the tribunal suffered a major setback as his representative, Captain Garba Sani told the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal that the Nigerian Army did not participate or assist the PDP in any rigging activities in Tai Local Government Area as alleged by the petitioner.

Captain Sani said that he received a signal from the Chief of Army Staff instructing him to testify on behalf of the Rivers State APC.

He led other soldiers to Tai LGA to maintain the peace for the governorship election. He testified on Wednesday.

The Representative of the Chief of Army Staff also declared that he did not see the Police or any other security agency assisting the PDP to manipulate the governorship election.

Captain Sani who was cross examined by Mr Okey Wali (SAN ) counsel to Governor Wike added that he did not see anybody illegally thumb printing ballot papers at any location.

Asked if he wrote a report on the said governorship election in Rivers State, Captain Sani agreed, but said it has been submitted to the Chief of Army Staff. He said that the report was not released to him on his way to the Tribunal.

The Chief of Army Staff said that he led 38 soldiers who he claimed were crammed in two Hiliux Vans.

Asked how the soldiers were able to convey arrested thugs since they had only two Hiliux Vans, Captain Sani could not explain.

He was further asked to explain how the Policemen he claimed they handed over arrested persons conveyed them to a separate location, since they had no vehicle. The Army Captain said he could explain.

The Representative of the Chief of Army Staff said he did not get the identities of the so-called thugs who disrupted elections as he merely handed them over to the police.

Asked if he was aware if those allegedly arrested by him have been prosecuted, the Chief of Army Staff representative said it was not his business to get such information.

Counsel to Governor Wike put it to the representative of the Chief of Army Staff that his testimony was mere hearsay and cannot be relied upon by the Tribunal, since he admitted that he didn’t participate or see anybody rigging.

The so called 38 soldiers in two Hiliux Vans allegedly monitored elections in 10 wards and 91 polling units of Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It remains unclear who directed the Chief of Army Staff to send a Representative to the Tribunal. Many believe that he received the directive from his overall employer.

Rivers APC Governorship petition runs into troubled as Tribunal Strikes out critical paragraphs containing criminal allegations

The Rivers State APC Petition against Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike ran into troubled waters on Wednesday as the Tribunal Struck out all the core paragraphs alleging electoral violence, snatching of ballot boxes, criminal manipulation of accreditation process and use of security agents and thugs to manipulate the election outcome.

Nyesom Wike

Justice Suleiman Ambrosa, Chairman of the Tribunal ruled that the paragraphs were incompetent because they contained criminal allegations against security agents and persons not joined in the petition by the Defeated Rivers State APC Governorship candidate, Mr Dakuku Peterside.

According to the tribunal, such persons ought to have been joined to defend themselves before the court.

The striking out of the paragraphs alleging several criminal actions during the governorship election has weakened the petition of the Rivers State APC Governorship candidate, Mr Dakuku Peterside as it implies that no irregular actions took place during the April 11, 2015 election as earlier alleged by the APC.

It will be recalled that the PDP through its counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN ) urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the ground that it contains incompetent grounds for challenging the victory of Governor Wike or in the alternative strike out all the offending paragraphs that bordered on criminal allegations. The tribunal opted for striking out the offending paragraphs.

It will therefore expunge from its records all the paragraphs containing criminal allegations. No further arguments will be taken on such paragraphs.

On the eligibility of Dakuku Peterside to contest the election, the Tribunal ruled that it cannot disqualify the petitioner because the respondents ought to have approached a High Court to determine the issue of 21 day notice to INEC.

On the issue of inappropriate service of the respondent outside Abuja without seeking leave of the Tribunal, Justice Ambrosa ruled that Governor Wike waived his right to challenge the illegality by appearing before the Tribunal.

Chief of Army Staff representative discredits APC at Rivers Tribunal