The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, challenging the judgment of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
The tribunal had upheld the election of Senator Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Eruwjadkpo, as the lawfully elected governor and deputy governor of Bayelsa State.
In its lead judgment, the Court of Appeal affirmed the declaration of Diri and the People’s Democratic Party as the joint winners of the November 11, 2023 poll, according to Channels TV.
The court held that the appellants failed to produce credible evidence that the election took place in 184 polling units of Nembe, Ogbia, and Southern Ijaw.
Additionally, the court noted that since the election was not conducted in the disputed areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the issue of vote collation could not have arisen.
The dismissal of the appeal by the Court of Appeal confirms the earlier judgment of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and solidifies Diri’s position as the duly elected governor of Bayelsa State.
