Sim Fubara Secures Victory in Supreme Court, Cementing Position as Governor of Rivers State
In a decisive ruling, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed appeals filed by Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his party, challenging the election of Siminalayi Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor of Rivers State. The apex court, sitting in Abuja on January 25, 2024, declared Fubara’s victory to be valid and lacking in merit. This ruling effectively ends all legal challenges to Fubara’s governorship and paves the way for him to continue his term in office.
The 2023 governorship election in Rivers State was a closely contested affair, with Fubara emerging victorious after polling 302,614 votes to Cole’s 95,274. Dissatisfied with the outcome, Cole and the APC filed petitions at the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, alleging irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. However, the tribunal dismissed these petitions in October 2023. Subsequently, Cole and the APC appealed the tribunal’s decision to the Court of Appeal, which also upheld Fubara’s victory in November 2023.
Unwavering in their pursuit of legal redress, Cole and the APC took their case to the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court. However, their hopes were dashed today as the five-member panel of justices led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa unanimously dismissed their appeals, citing a lack of merit.
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The Supreme Court’s ruling is a significant blow to Cole and the APC, marking the final chapter in their legal challenge to Fubara’s governorship. With all legal avenues exhausted, Fubara can now focus on delivering on his campaign promises and fulfilling his mandate to the people of Rivers State.
