Bayelsa Governorship Election: Diri, INEC, PDP Urge Supreme Court To Reject Sylva’s Appeal

Governor Douye Diri has urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal filed by Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Bayelsa State gubernatorial election, challenging the legitimacy of Diri’s election victory.

Diri, through his legal representative Chris Uche, SAN, argued that Sylva’s appeal is fundamentally flawed and beyond redemption, as it lacks credible evidence or witness testimony to support the claims made in the petition.

During Monday’s proceedings, both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Charles Edoshomwan, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), represented by Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, echoed Diri’s stance, urging the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal on the grounds of insufficient merit.

On the other hand, Sylva’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn the previous judgments of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which had dismissed Sylva’s petition.

Naija News reports that Sylva seeks to have Diri’s victory nullified and to be declared the rightful winner of the election.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the Supreme Court panel, led by Justice Garba Lawal, reserved judgment and announced that a decision would be communicated to all parties involved at a later date.