BREAKING: A’COURT DISMISSES SYLVA, APC’S SUIT ON BAYELSA GOVERNORSHIP POLL

July 18, 2024July 18, 2024

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Timipre Sylva, their governorship candidate, filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn the ruling of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. The appeal was denied.

In a ruling issued in Abuja on May 17, 2024, the Tribunal affirmed the election and reappointment of Senators Douye Diri and Lawrence Eruwjadkpo as duly elected governor and deputy, respectively.

Justice James Abundaga, who read the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal, affirmed the declaration of Diri and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the joint winners of the November 11, 2023, poll.

He granted the appellants in the appeal a cost of N500,000, which APC and Sylva are to reimburse.

The appellate court determined that the appellants had not presented any reliable proof that the election was held in the 184 polling places located in Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, and Nembe.

The court further found that the question of vote collation could not have arisen based on the information and exhibits produced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demonstrating that the election was not conducted in the contested districts.