Rivers APM Commends Tribunal Decision on Ballot Paper Exclusion

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency, Wonne Afronelly on Tuesday April 11, 2023 lauded the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal for granting her request to serve the respondent Mr. Emerengwa Boniface Sunday with the court process through substituted means.

Wonne Afronelly gave the commendation in a statement she personally signed.

The Rivers state election petition tribunal granted the prayer of  Wonne and the APM in the motion ex-parte filed last Thursday to serve originating process to the first respondent as part of the petition process to challenge the omission of its logo on the ballot papers in the election held on Saturday, 25th February, 2023.

According to Wonne, the omission of her party's logo on the ballot paper was a purposeful tactic to prevent her and her party from winning the recently concluded elections. 

The Allied Peoples' Movement (APM) Rivers state had previously lodged a complaint with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about the absence of their logo on the House of Representatives ballot papers for Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency FC/324/RV, which contravenes the requirements set out in the Electoral Act preventing WONNE Afronelly, the duly nominated candidate to ganer votes from her supporters.

Wonne filed a petition with suit no. EPT/RV/HR/17/2023 to the tribunal in March, stating that the omission of her party's logo had resulted in significant confusion and disenfranchisement among her supporters. As a result of this error, they were unable to fulfill their civic duty by casting their votes in her favour.

The APM legal team, Barr. Innocent Ekwu, C. Ozo. Esq, and Ikiri Joseph Esq in the motion ex-parte urged the tribunal to direct substituted service on the first respondent by pasting petition processes within the Rivers state tribunal office.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Kereng, granted the request of the petitioner. Other members of the three-man tribunal are Justice Abubakar and Justice Oluboyede.