Appeal Court sacks Rivers Assembly member

The Court of Appeal nullifies the certificate of return issued Mr. Andrew Miller of the APC in River state
- In delivering the judgment, the court described the March 19, 2016 election as massively rigged  in favour of the APC
- The Justice Ibrahim Saulawa-led panel orders INEC to issue fresh one to the PDP's candidate in the re-run, Mr. Diri Adonye

The Appeal Court has set aside the judgment of the Rivers state election petition tribunal which earlier affirmed the election of Mr. Andrew Miller of the APC.
A member of the Rivers state House of Assembly representing Opobo/Nkoro constituency, Mr. Andrew Miller of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been sacked by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday, December 1.

The Punch reports that the Justice Ibrahim Saulawa-led panel nullified the certificate of return issued to Miller by the Independent National Electoral Commission and ordered the commission to issue fresh one to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the re-run, Mr. Diri Adonye.
In delivering the judgment, the court described the March 19, 2016 election as “massively rigged” in favour of the APC and Miller and set aside the judgment of the Rivers state election petition tribunal which earlier affirmed the election of the APC and its candidate.

The PDP and its candidate had filed their petition before the tribunal contending that the APC’s candidate declared as the winner of the poll did not receive the highest lawful votes.
The petitioners argued that the figures were inflated in favour of the APC and its candidate.
READ ALSO: Fayose makes BIG u-turn after PDP exit comment
But the rivers state election petition tribunal had dismissed the petition on the grounds that the petitioners failed to prove the alleged tampering with the authentic election results and who actually altered with the results.
The petitioners further appealed to the Court of Appeal asking for an order setting aside the judgment of the tribunal.

Justice Mbaba held that results of the election were altered with figures fraudulently inflated and allocated to the APC in the various wards.
Meanwhile Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor-elect of Ondo state has said he will not institute probe against the administration of outgoing Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
Akeredolu speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari onWednesday, November 30, said that “My own is not to institute any probe of last regime and that is what President Buhari has done.
He also said there may be need to review some campaign promises when faced with realities.

credit: naij.com