Nigeria’s Supreme Court sitting in Abuja today dismissed an appeal brought before it by the Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state challenging the territorial jurisdiction of the election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja. Mr. Wike had appealed a decision of the Court of Appeal hich earlier held that the tribunal’s location was in order.
In its ruling today the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the lower court on the matter of jurisdiction.
Four tribunals cited in Abuja have jointly cancelled the election of Mr. Wike and 21 members of the state house of assembly including the speaker, Owaji Ibani.
The Supreme Court ruling legitimizes the actions of the four tribunals and their judgements nullifying Mr. Wike’s elections and those of other members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Wike and his lawyers will now have to proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the cancellation of their elections within the next twenty-one days.