Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday saw his appeal against the election petition tribunal’s decision nullifying his election dismissed by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.

The three-man appeal court, headed by Justice M.B. Dongban-Mensem, upheld the tribunal’s ruling that the former education minister’s election was not in consonance with the Electoral Act and ordered that a fresh election be conducted within 90 days.

The election tribunal had on October 24, 2015 ruled in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate, Dakuku Peterside, who challenged Wike’s election.

Appealing the judgement, Wike argued that he was duly elected and asked the court to set aside the ruling of the tribunal, saying it refused to consider the evidence that election held in the state on April 11.

It would be recalled that Wike had gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunal, which sat in Abuja. He argued that it should have sat in Rivers and not the nation’s capital.

The apex court dismissed his case on the ground that the security situation in Rivers State was enough reason for the tribunal to be moved to Abuja.