I remain the state governor - Wike says in state broadcast

Nyesom Wike whose election was nullified by the Rivers
state petition tribunal yesterday October 24th, has
addressed the state in a broadcast. He said irrespective
of the tribunal's verdict, he still remains governor of the
state. He reaffirmed his position to appeal the Tribunal's
decision. Read the full text of his broadcast after the
cut.
1. My dear people of Rivers State
It is with a profound sense of concern and responsibility
that I address you over the judgment of the Rivers State
Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on
Saturday, October 24, 2015, purportedly nullifying my
election and return as the duly and lawfully elected
Governor of our State.
2. We all know that on April 11, 2015, Rivers people in
their millions joined the rest of the country and
enthusiastically participated in electing their Governor
and members of the State House of Assembly.
3. Apart from the reported malfunctioning of the card
readers supplied by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), which placed no advantage on any
of the contestants, the election took place throughout the
State and was adjudged both by local and international
observers to be largely peaceful, transparent, free, fair
and credible.
4. Following the success of the election, I was returned
as duly and lawfully elected by the INEC, having
satisfied all the necessary legal requirements.
5. However, following the petitions by my friend, the APC
gubernatorial candidate and his party, and despite the
woeful failure of the Petitioners to discharge the burden
of proof with respect to their contradictory, wild and
false allegations against the conduct of the election, the
State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal
nullified my election on the basis of INEC’s alleged
infraction of its administrative guidelines on the use of
card readers.
6. It is common knowledge that INEC’s card readers
malfunctioned throughout the country in the 2015
general elections. It is also common knowledge that
wherever the card reader malfunctioned, manual
accreditation, which is the only process, recognized by
the current Electoral Act, was used to accredit voters all
over the country.
7. So far I am not aware of any State where the election
was postponed as a result of failure of card readers.
Furthermore, the Court of Appeal in Agbaje v Ambode
clearly stated that the partial or non-use of card readers
is not the basis for the cancellation of an election.
8. Yet, against all legal odds and the grains of logic, the
Tribunal in its wisdom decided to accord undue legal
weight to the straw of statements around the use or
non-use of card readers to support its decision in the
face of a hopelessly bad case of the Petitioners.
9. As we all know, our judicial system is built on the
doctrine of hierarchy of courts in which lower courts are
bound by the decisions of courts higher in hierarchy on
the same or similar issues. It is therefore strange for the
Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal to arrive at
a decision that negates subsisting judgments of the
Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.
10. Being an implacable believer in the majesty of our
judicial system as the last hope of the common man, I
have implicit confidence in the ability of the appellate
courts to correct the mistakes of the Tribunal and right
the wrong that has been done to our collective psyche
and aspiration.
11. Accordingly, I have since instructed my team of
lawyers to immediately commence the appeal process
and have the decision of the Rivers State Governorship
Election Petition Tribunal upturned for good.
12. At this point, I appeal to all our supporters across
the state and beyond to remain calm and go about their
legitimate duties in a peaceful manner. There is no
cause for alarm.
13. By virtue of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, I
am still your Governor and will remain your Governor
until the exhaustive conclusion of the appeal process at
the Supreme Court.
14. Therefore, be assured that your mandate, which you
freely gave to the Peoples Democratic Party and my
humble self, is intact, safe and secure. God will not
allow your mandate to come to naught.
15. I wish to thank the people of Rivers State for the
unwavering support I have enjoyed from you since the
beginning of the struggle to this moment. I am highly
humbled with the show of solidarity from all and sundry
and in particular, the confidence in our ability to move
the State forward, and the overwhelming satisfaction
with what we are already doing as our government to
reposition the State.
16. I wish to further assure you that my team and I will
not be distracted by this minor irritation. We shall
remain focused on our vision and continue to deliver on
our fundamental promises on improving security,
massive development of infrastructure and socio-
economic empowerment in Rivers State.
17. Finally, be assured that by the special grace of God,
we shall ultimately prevail over our adversaries, retain
our mandate and return the glory to God Almighty our
Maker and Refuge.
18. Thank you and May God continue to bless Rivers
State