•Governor dedicates victory to Bayelsans
The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the re-election of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, yesterday, dismissed as lacking in merit, the petition brought before it by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Timipre Sylva.
In its unanimous decision, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to adduce any credible evidence to substantiate any of the allegations they raised against the outcome of the Bayelsa State governorship poll.
It struck out, as incompetent, all the additional proof of evidence, as well as statements, on oath, of some of the witnesses that testified for the petitioners.
According to the tribunal, the law expressly provided that an election petition must be filed not later than 21 days after the result of an election was declared.
It held that such a petition must, at the time it was filed, be accompanied by written statements of all the intended witnesses.
The tribunal also held that the decision of Sylva and his party to file their additional proof of evidence and statement on oath of witnesses long after they had filed the petition was “tantamount to a surreptitious attempt to amend the case of the petitioners.”
MEANWHILE, Diri has dedicated his victory at the tribunal to the people of the state, saying it will spur him to serve the state better in his second term.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the judgement, the governor said that the petition was a “needless distraction.”
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor noted that by the judgement, the judiciary has again proven that it remained the last hope for the common man.
He said: “Once again, l want to use this opportunity to thank my people of Bayelsa State, who graciously and freely gave me this mandate. It is not my victory, but it is for the people of Bayelsa.
ALSO, Sylva has expressed dissatisfaction with the tribunal’s judgment.
According to the former Minister of State for Petroleum, after meeting with elders and stakeholders of the party, he has directed his legal team to immediately seek justice at the Court of Appeal.
Prior to the judgement, Sylva had accused the tribunal of bias, following several infractions observed by his lawyers during the hearing.
