The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani has re-stated that he remain the Speaker saying that the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja did not sack him, neither did it sack the other 20 lawmakers whose elections were nullified.
The speaker was reacting to the news making the rounds that he and 20 lawmakers of the Assembly has been sacked following the tribunal judgement on Monday, last week, which ordered the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh elections in the 21 constituencies within 90 days.
Ibani, who spoke to newsmen Port Harcourt, stated that the tribunal only have judgement in their own opinion. He said, he and the other 20 lawmakers have already applied through their counsels to obtain records of the proceedings and that they were already headed for appeal.
He said, “I heard over the news that the speaker and 20 others have been sacked by the election tribunal. No member, not even the speaker has been sacked. The lower tribunal gave judgement in their opinion. In their judgement they argued that there should be a rerun within 90days.
“The Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani was not sacked by any election petition tribunal. And, none of the members was sacked by the election petition tribunal. I am still the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly and the members still remain members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The whole world knows that election was conducted in the state on April 11. The whole world knows as well that INEC prepared for such election for a long period. We have strong faith in the Nigerian state and its judicial system. We believe, as legislators, that conscience not placed on the canvass of justice is unconscionable. We believe that same principles in law should be applied in all circumstance.
“The judicial procedure in the Nigerian system is such that, when the lower tribunal gives its judgement, you have the right to appeal. And that we have done. We have directed our lawyers to file notices of appeal. That we have done.
“We believe that if a particular principle was applied in some situations in the north, West, it should also apply in the South-South. If Ambode (governor of Lagos State) has nothing with card reader, why should the Wike’s. Justice is one element that keeps the faith of the people of a nation. It is my plea that wherever we find ourselves as people of Nigeria, the Nigerian state should give us justice.”