Rotimi Amaechi’s Victory Challenged
July 29, 2008 by 
Che Oyimnatumba
Finally, a ray of judicial hope appears in the questionable imposition of Rotimi Amaechi as governor of Rivers State by the Supreme Court. The Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) candidate in the 14 April 2007 election in Rivers State, Sergeant Awuse has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the refusal of both the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal to hear his appeal challenging the victory of the PDP in the election.
Awuse wants the NJC to reconstitute an Election Petition Tribunal to hear his petition alleging massive irregularities. According to Awuse, the law cannot trade off these irregularities, rigging, allotment of votes and unlawful votes INEC donated to PDP. He further more stated that the Supreme Court’s resolution of the PDP primary crisis in favour of Amaechi, is different from the general election.
Both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, has refused to hear Awuse’s petition on the grounds that the Supreme Court had ordered Amaeachi the rightful PDP candidate and all votes cast for PDP in the election be deemed for Amaechi. It is this blank cheque that Awuse is challenging, reasoning that, the election that produced the votes PDP claimed, was rigged and should be held up to the rules of the Electoral Act.
In the run up to the election, Amaechi’s name was substituted with Celestine Omehia, who contested the general election on the platform of the PDP against other political parties in accordance with the Electoral Act.
Rotimi Amaechi, never stood for the general election, as he was not fielded by the PDP.
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At times i wonder if we, the unlearnned, have some more common sense than the so called learned gentlemen. Is it not obvious that the matter which the supreme court resolved was that of who is the rightful PDP candidate, which they ruled in Amaechi’s favour? Fine! they never dabbled into the election but into PDP’s primary and since PDP, by INEC’s verdict and not the supreme court, won the general election it invariably means Amaechi won the election. This does not in any way mean that the election should not be challenged at the tribunal.
Please, we the masses in Rivers State have already had enough doses of Amaechism- wanton demolition of shops and buildings under the guise of restoring PH to its garden city status. There is enough crying in the land and thier tears will surely be heard in the High places.
On assumption of office by gov Amaechi, he went to church and knelt down telling the world that he has dedicated his self to God to lead in the fear of God and to carry every body along. Today many people residing in Port harcourt are crying as many has gone back to their different homes due to massive destructions of peoples’ houses and business places. Amaechi is gradually chasing non-Rivers indigenes out of PHC. He should know in America, Britain, Lagos, Abuja etc many rivers indigenes are residing there without any molestation. Amaechi should think twice because helpless peoples’ tears which are increasing on daily bases are going up to the Lord.
RE: ROTIMI AMAECHI’S VICTORY CHALLENGED
One is not bothered about who and who is challenging Amaechi’s victory in court.one is bothered over the very unpopular policy of Demolition that Amaechi has embarked upon. Governor Chibuike Amechi is busy demolishing structures that he term illegal structures in Port Harcourt. The exercise is taking traders unaware as they claimed that the agency only came a day before to earmark the area for demolition.
Traders are seen in the areas of demolition trying to escape with the goods they could lay their hands on, while several others were totally destroyed by the rampaging bulldozers. Unemployed people who manage to feed via small shops and house rent, watch their shops and houses been destroyed.
One is really shocked at Amaechi’s actions, for this is a time when he should be putting food on the table of Rivers state indigenes who have been beaten and battered by a decimated environment instead he choose to make his people the poorest of the poor. The grouse is that they will demolish a place and leave it just like that. There should be a reason for demolition. If the government wants to set up something in an area and there is need for demolition exercise, it is understandable, but when they just chase people out of a place and leave it like that, its act of wickedness.
Port Harcourt, the garden city and capital of Rivers State is being deserted by both indigenes and non indigenes of the state. In those days Port Harcourt use to be very peaceful and tourist from all over the world patronize the city. But all these seems to be History now. Almost every day we hear, we see and we read stories of gunmen , killing ,maiming ,and kidnapping of defenseless citizens. People don’t go out at night any how, yet Amaechi is busy chasing shadows.
As we speak now,Cultists and criminal gangs are still operating in the state and some persons including children are still been held by kidnappers for ransom.These activities are evil and unacceptable, yet Gov Amaechi is busy Demolishing poor peoples houses. Flood is chasing people out of their homes, traffic congestion is unbearable in Port Harcourt, impassable roads,lack of Drinking water and Unemployment are there for every body to see, yet Gov Amaechi is busy rendering poor people homeless and poorer. If Rivers State people do tolerate such an insane policy and strategy of Gov Chibuike Amaechi , then they clearly do not deserve to survive as a state or as a people. Somebody should please call Amaechi to order.The wicked will never go unpurnished
-Kenneth uwadi
lawyers are good at searching out facts in law to support their arguement but certain logical issues sometimes they forget that natural logic makes real law.for instance the issue of Rotimi and Awuse. ” the supreme court ruled on intra-party but not, inter-party” but today tribunal, all courts, certain quarters, and individual lawyers, tend to mis-interpret the true ruling of supreme court that made him the Governor.To me the ruling does not stop court interpreting the case of inter-party. I hope i were a lawyer, i would have made my research properly open about my view on the said case but in my opinion I shall appeal,suggest passionately to the Governor to reach out properly to Awuse so that they can join hands towards building the state for the respect of love,peace and brotherhood . I love what the Governor is doing in our State therefore I pray for more strength and ideas,