The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared the verdict of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja as biased, bizarre and unacceptable.

The party expressed its position on the judgement in a press statement that was signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh.

He said that the judgement is part of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) plot to manipulate the will of the people

PDP is also picking fault with the 24-hour time frame after the various counsels to the case submitted their written addresses to the tribunal, saying the judgement was delivered in a hurry.

Mr Metuh also called on the international community to note plots by the ruling party to upturn the party’s victory in other states including Taraba, Abia and Delta states.

The Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Saturday, nullified the election of Nyesom Wike of PDP as the Governor of Rivers State, on grounds that his election did not comply with electoral guidelines.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleiman Ambrosa, ordered INEC to conduct fresh elections in the state within 90 days of the ruling.

Both PDP and Wike say that they will appeal the judgment. Addressing journalists after the judgment, their counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), said that Chief Wike remains governor until the appeal processes are exhausted.

He added that the nature of the judgment delivered by the Justice Ambrosa-led tribunal makes appeal vital as the new position adopted by the tribunal must be tested in the interest of justice.

Mr Uche noted that the tribunal’s reliance on card reader accreditation to nullify the governorship election when evidence was led by both the respondents and the petitioners that both card reader and manual accreditation were used for the election requires testing at the court of appeal.

According to the lawyer, it is shocking that less than 24 hours after lawyers on all sides submitted nine written addresses and documents, the tribunal sent notice that judgment would be delivered this morning.

•Pieced together from separate Channels TV stories. Photo shows Wike.

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