The Supreme Court on Friday upheld Sen. Douye Diri’s re-election as Bayelsa’s governor, dismissing an appeal from Timipre Sylva and the APC. Justice Garba Lawal’s lead judgment found the appeal meritless and an abuse of court process.
This decision supports the Court of Appeal and Election Petition Tribunal’s earlier rulings.
The Court of Appeal had affirmed Diri’s victory on July 18, 2023. A three-judge panel, led by Justice James Abundaga, unanimously rejected Sylva and APC’s appeal, agreeing that the tribunal’s decision to strike out parts of the petition was correct.
The election tribunal, led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, had previously dismissed Sylva and APC’s petition on May 27 for lack of merit.
The tribunal found their evidence insufficient and declared the petitioners’ additional proof and witness statements incompetent, noting the legal requirement to file an election petition within 21 days of the result declaration.
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