The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has alleged that “palpable fear and tension now pervades the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State and Mr Dakuku Peterside” following the appeal lodged this week by Governor Nyesom Wike at the Court of Appeal over the nullification of his election by the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

The allegation was contained in a statement by the State chairman of the PDP, Bro Felix Obuah, and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam.

Bro Obuah did not provide proof of the claim but explained that “the appeal became necessary because the party saw no grounds on which the controversial nullification of the Rivers State governorship election was based.”

He said that once any judgement was shrouded in uncertainty, and to test the veracity of such judgement, a superior appellate court became the way out of the quagmire.

“The action of Governor Wike and the PDP to appeal the judgement is therefore in order and the best option by a law abiding party,” the State PDP Chairman noted. He insisted that the call by Rivers APC on Wike not to appeal the judgement was borne out of fear “because they know the tribunal’s judgement lacks the locus to stand before the higher appellate courts.”

“Rivers APC sufficiently aware of this development had wished the PDP did not appeal the tribunal ruling, preferring an unchallenged re-run which the PDP has described as self delusion,” Bro Obuah further said.