Bayelsa Governorship Election: Tribunal Takes New Stand On Diri, Sylva Case

The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal deferred its decision on the 2023 election outcome.
Timipre Sylva of the APC is contesting Duoye Diri’s victory, with the tribunal to deliver its judgment within 180 days.
Diri’s counsel and the lawyers for INEC and the PDP advocated for the dismissal of the petition.

Eko Hot Blog The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has deferred its decision on the petition contesting the outcome of the 2023 election in the state.

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This decision was made on Monday following the hearing from all parties involved in the petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva.

Recalled that Sylva is contesting the declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Duoye Diri, as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking on Monday, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, announced that the judgment would be delivered within the statutory period of 180 days, and all parties involved in the petition would be notified as soon as the judgment delivery date is fixed.

Following the petitioners’ adoption of their final written address on Monday, the tribunal chairman delivered the verdict, urging the tribunal to annul the declaration of Diri as the election winner.

Their lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrongfully declared Diri as the winner of the election, therefore, urging the tribunal to declare his candidate as the rightful winner.

On the other hand, Diri’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), stated that the petition by Sylva and his lawyers is dead on arrival due to its gross deficiency in both quantity and quality of evidence.

He urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition, citing its baseless, frivolous, and grossly lacking merit.