Speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly, Hon Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani has called for calm in the state, saying that the 20 lawmakers had appealed the judgement of the lower tribunal in Abuja which nullified their elections on Monday.
The Speaker, Hon Ibani who did not appear ruffled as he addressed newsmen in his office at the state House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt yesterday expressed hope that the judgement of the lower tribunal will be unturned at the appeal court,
He further dismissed as untrue media reports that he and twenty others were no longer member of the state House of Assembly. According to him, they still remained members of the House, adding the the was hopeful he would complete his tenure as lawmaker.
“I heard over the news that the speaker and twenty others have been sacked by the election tribunal.
No member, not even the Speaker has been sacked. The lower tribunal gave judgement in their opinion. In their judgement, argued that there should be a rerun within 90days. “, he said,
The Speaker who pleaded that the same principles of law should apply in all situations round the country wondered why card reader was an issue in the election of governor Nyesom Wike yet it was not in a case on similar election in lagos state.
“We have strong faith in the Nigerian state and its judicial system. We believe as legislators that conscience not placed on the canvass of justice is unconscionable. We believe that the same principles in law should be applied in all circumstance.”
“If Ambode in Lagos state has noting with card reader why should the Wike’s in Rivers have. Justice is one element that keep the faith of the people of a nation. It is my plea that wherever we find ourselves as people of Nigeria the Nigerian state should give us justice.
Governor Ambode’s case had noting to do with the card reader but governor Wike’s case had something to do with the card reader
I will not want to preempt the judgement of the appellate court. All I can tell you is that I have appealed against the judgement of the lower tribunal.”, he said,
“Our lawyers have applied for the records of proceedings. Already we have gone on appeal, if you look at the law it states that from the day judgment is given in any petition you have to file your appeal and in 60days judgement should be delivered.
Indeed no member of the House of Assembly was sacked by the tribunal. But we believe that if a particular principle applied in some situations in the North, West it should also apply in the South South.
We did not consult God to create us as Rivers people. We did not consult God to put Rivers where it is today in the map of Nigeria. We did not consult God to make us part of the nation state called Nigeria “, he said.
The speaker, Hon Ibani who reiterated his position that the general elections in the state were free and fair, said he was hopeful that the judiciary will redress what he perceived as wrong done with nullification of the elections by the tribunal.
“The whole world knows that election was conducted in the state on April 11. The whole world knows as well that INEC prepared for such election for a long period. Because we have faith in the judiciary system, we have faith in the judges and justices we have in Nigeria we believe that our cass will not be different.
We have faith in the Chief Justice of Nigeria that justice must be done. We have faith in the judiciary.
You can’t insulate democracy from justice. Through free will the people voted governor Wike and members of the state House of Assembly. We must keep faith with the Nigeria state. “, he said.
The Speaker who sensed that the tribunal judgement so far had generated a form of tension in the state said he had to brief the press to douse the tension,
“People will always say this Speaker does not laugh. Today I am going to laugh. Leadership entails maturity”, he said on a lighter note,
The election petitions tribunal sitting in Abuja Monday nullified the election of twenty members of the House on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, among those affected was the Speaker, Hon Ibani , Majority Leader of the House, Hon Martins Amewhule, representing Obio Akpor constituency 1.
The tribunal judgement upheld the election of twelve other members of the House, Among them, Hon Evans Bipi, who is the Chief Whip and former leader of the anti Amaechi lawmakers during the second term of former governor Chibuike Amaechi. The election of the member representing Eleme constituency on the platform of the All Progressive Congress. APC was also upheld by the tribunal.
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