The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has commended the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public petitions for clearing, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, as one of the Ministerial nominees whose names were sent to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari for screening and confirmation.
The APC in a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone said attempts by those he described as detractors to tarnish the reputation of Amaechi for the purpose of blackmailing the Senate and the Presidency not to appoint him a Minister had failed.
The APC in the statement also noted that it is aware of the rulings by the Justice Pindiga-led Election Petition Tribunal for Rivers East which gave victory to the PDP Candidates.
The party said its has accepted the rulings but will appeal them as a law-abiding political party.
“The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, would like to congratulate the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public petitions for clearing our leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON as one of the Ministerial nominees whose names were sent to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari for screening and confirmation.
“The APC believes that attempts by detractors to tarnish the impeccable reputation of our amiable leader for the purpose of blackmailing the Senate and the Presidency not to appoint him a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would fail. And it has failed.
“The APC has taken notice of the rulings by the Justice Pindiga-led Election Petition Tribunal for Rivers East which gave victory to our opponents today. We have accepted the rulings but will appeal them immediately.
“As a law-abiding political party, the APC harbours deep-seated respect for the judiciary as the last hope of the common man. We have no iota of doubt that the APC will have all the rulings upturned in favour of the APC at the appellate court level.
“It is clear that the 21-day notice cited by the panel had earlier been ruled upon as a pre-election matter which should not be brought before the election petition tribunals. That position has been reaffirmed by the appeal court more than once.
“The latest of such cases is that of Dr. Dawari George in which the appeal court held that the Tribunal erred on its ruling because the issue of 21 days is a pre-election matter and as such does not include issues meant to be decided by the Tribunal; the Appellate court subsequently upheld the appeal and ordered the Tribunal to resume the trial of the Petition brought by Dawari George and the APC.”
While the APC is making moves to Appeal the Rivers East National Assembly rulings, the Rivers state Government is jubilating the Tribunal victory.
The Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike said the judgement of the Rivers State Election Tribunal, asserted the victory of the Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates has showed that the last general elections were free, fair and credible.
Governor Wike in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah said no amount of propaganda, blackmail and witch-hunting can subvert the will of the collective people of Rivers State.
“The judgement of the Rivers State Election Tribunal in Abuja which judiciously asserted the victory of the Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates has showed clearly that the last general elections were free, fair and credible.
“No amount of propaganda, blackmail and witch-hunting can subvert the will of the collective populace of Rivets State as demonstrated on the Saturday, April 11, gubernatorial elections.
“The judgements obviate the need for any further proof that the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, convincingly won the 2015 general elections in Rivets State.
“As a government, we hold in trust and candor the collective mandate of the people of Rivers State for the next four years. The people have spoken; the courts have affirmed and even the natural elements are in tandem with the government and people of Rivets State.
“As a duly elected government, we congratulate our party members and candidates. We applaud the electoral tribunal for its forthrightness, straight-forwardness, sagacity and sense of purpose. The judgements are a victory for the people of Rivers State.” .
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