Essential Ndubuisi
Senator Magnus Abe, the Rivers State governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has stated that he would approach the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to contest the outcome of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state. Abe, speaking on a live radio program in Port Harcourt, expressed dissatisfaction with the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing the need to challenge it in court.
“We have studied the so-called outcome of the process of March 18 and have taken a decision and we are acting on it. I don’t think that what happened on March 18 reflects the wishes of Rivers people or the desire of God for a better life for all of us,” Abe said. “We don’t accept what happened on March 18 as the voice of God or a clear reflection of the wishes of Rivers people. We don’t think our people were allowed to democratically and effectively choose their leadership in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. So, we will be going to Court to challenge that.”
Abe also expressed regret that INEC officials refused to attend to SDP members who were at the commission’s office on Thursday to collect some documents that will support the party’s petition at the tribunal. The SDP candidate’s legal challenge means that the Rivers State governorship election remains disputed and could lead to a lengthy legal battle.
