Rivers State Chief Judge Constitutes Election Petitions Tribunal and Appeals Panel for Local Government Elections

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, has officially inaugurated the Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal and the Appeals Panel to address petitions stemming from the recently concluded Council elections in the state.

In a statement released by the Chief Registrar of the Rivers State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi, the inauguration took place on Monday, October 7, 2024, after being initially scheduled for Friday, October 4, 2024.

The Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal is organized into three separate panels, while the Appeals Panel consists of a single panel. The composition of the tribunals is as follows:

First Tribunal Panel: Chief Magistrate Rosemary N. Ibanibo (Chairman), Precious Dike, and Emmanuel Evans-Dappa (Members).

Second Tribunal Panel: Chief Magistrate Menenen Poromon (Chairman), Grace Ikenyiri, and Benedict Neenador Kinaka (Members).

Third Tribunal Panel: Chief Magistrate Betty Sunny-Hart (Chairman), G. S. Minanyo, and Mabel Amesi (Members).

Justice Opufaa Ben-Whyte has been appointed as the Chairman of the Local Government Election Appeals Panel, joined by Justice Frank Onyiri and Justice Ibietela Madighi-Obu as panel members.

In his remarks, Justice Amadi urged the chairpersons and members of both the Election Petitions Tribunal and Appeals Panel to uphold fairness and integrity in their proceedings, emphasizing the importance of discharging their duties with the fear of God.