Rivers State Governorship Election: See What Anglican Clergy Told Tribunal

An Anglican priest, Reverend Canon Smart Nwankwo, has told the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja that gubernatorial election took place in the state on April 11, 2015.

Nwankwo, who was among four witnesses that were subpoenaed to appear before the tribunal on Thursday, insisted that the election that produced Governor Nyesom Wike was transparently conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The cleric told the Justice Suleiman Ambrosa-led panel that he voted at Unit 7 Ward 12 of Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, even as he tendered his Permanent Voters Card (PVC), as an evidence before the tribunal.

His PVC was admitted and marked as exhibit B-11.

While being cross-examined by Chief Akinlolu Olujunmi (SAN), who is the counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the witness, debunked allegation that the election was marred by violence and manifest irregularities.

He said:

“My lords, I am an Anglican clergy. I stand here today to say that governorship election took place in Rivers State on April 11. I voted at Unit 7 Ward 12 of Ikwerre Local Government Area. At my polling unit, there was no single incident of violence or ballot box snatching. I can testify that the governorship election was free, fair and transparent.”