The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Governor Douye Diri, dismissing the petition filed by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Timipre Sylva, as frivolous and lacking merit.
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In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday, the three-member panel led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye ruled against Sylva’s claims, stating that the petitioners failed to provide substantial evidence of electoral irregularities.
The panel highlighted that Sylva and the APC did not present any electoral materials to substantiate their allegations of non-compliance with electoral laws.
The tribunal noted that the petitioners could not meet the legal burden of proof required to challenge the election results.
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Specifically, the panel pointed out that Sylva and the APC did not provide detailed evidence of non-compliance on a polling unit-by-polling unit basis, nor did they demonstrate how such alleged irregularities impacted the election outcome.
Additionally, the tribunal struck out as incompetent all supplementary evidence and witness statements submitted by the petitioners.
Sylva had contested the results of the November 11, 2023, governorship election, which saw the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declare the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Governor Diri, the winner with 175,195 votes, compared to APC’s 110,108 votes.
Sylva also argued that INEC excluded results from the local governments of Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, and Nembe.
In response to the tribunal’s ruling, Governor Diri expressed gratitude to the judiciary for affirming his victory and respecting the will of the Bayelsa people.
He reiterated his commitment to serving the state without distraction.
Meanwhile, Sylva announced his intention to appeal the tribunal’s decision, stating that he remains confident in the Nigerian judicial system despite the tribunal’s ruling.
He plans to consult with key party stakeholders before proceeding to the Court of Appeal.
