The Rivers state election tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Thursday, June 29, sacked Senator George Thompson Sekibo, representing Rivers east at the Nigerian Senate.
The tribunal also declared Andrew Uchendu the winner of the senatorial election.
The tribunal directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Sekibo and issue a fresh certificate of return to Uchendu.
The tribunal’s decision cited the fact that Uchendu won the lawful majority vote cast during the Rivers Re-run legislative election.
Recall that Uchendu had approached the tribunal with a petition praying the court to declare him the winner of the poll, alleging that INEC failed to take into cognisance the results of some wards and polling units before declaring Sekibo the winner of the polls.
The tribunal however cited the substantial non-compliance with the electoral act and INEC guidelines as the reason for its decision today.
