Asukewe Ikoawaji, a member of the Rivers Elders’ Forum, has shared his view on whether the courts have the right to interfere with the Rivers State LGA elections.
In an interview with Arise TV from 13:39, Ikoawaji referenced past electoral cases to emphasize the judiciary’s role in election matters. According to him, Senator Adams Oshiomhole contested the 2007 Edo gubernatorial election after INEC declared PDP’s Prof. Osunbor as governor. The court later ruled in favor of Oshiomhole. Similarly, in Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha was initially declared governor, but the court later ruled in favor of Hope Uzodinma. Likewise, in Rivers State, Celestine Omehia was declared governor before the court intervened and declared Rotimi Amaechi as the rightful governor. Ikoawaji said that the judiciary plays a constitutional role in the electoral process, ensuring that things are corrected when they go wrong.
In Ikoawaji’s words: “Senator Adams Oshiomhole ran election under the platform of ACN against PDP, INEC declared PDP candidate Prof Osunbor as the governor of Edo State. Oshiomhole went to court and the Court declared Oshiomhole winner. In Imo State Emeka Ihedioha was declared the governor of Imo State, after some months the court declared Hope Uzodinma who is now the governor of Rivers State. In Rivers State, Omehia was declared the governor and the Court declared Rotimi Amaechi. So you can’t separate the judiciary from electoral process. It is constitutional matter. The court has a right wherever things are going wrong”.