Appeal Court Strikes Out Petition Against Amaechi

PHOTO: RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR, MR. ROTIMI CHIBUIKE AMAECHI.

San Francisco, April 21, (THEWILL) - A Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday threw out a petition filed by the governorship candidate of Accord Party in the 2007 gubernatorial elections, Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, against the election of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for lack of competence.

The unanimous decision by the five-justice panel was read by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who said Soberekon rather than appeal against the order refusing to release the petition by the lower tribunal ought to have appealed against the order dismissing the petition for non-attendance at the practice session.

The Appeal Court said Soberekon should have appealed against the dismissal of his suit at the lower court adding that asking the tribunal to release their petition after it had dismissed it would have amounted to the tribunal sitting on appeal on its own decision.

Reacting to the ruling, supporters of Amaechi hit the streets of Port Harcourt in jubilation. The governor who just returned to Port Harcourt after being stranded in London due to the volcanic emission which shut down European airspace said, "The courts have shown that no matter how mighty the rich are, the court would continue to defend the rights of the poor."