Nigerian Court Affirms Re-Election of Bayelsa State Governor
In a unanimous judgment, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the decision of the Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal, which had earlier reaffirmed the re-election of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State. The appellate court dismissed an appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, seeking to set aside the decision of the tribunal.
The Justice Adekunle Adeleye-led three-member tribunal had previously dismissed the petition filed against Governor Diri’s re-election on May 27, citing a lack of credible evidence to support the allegations made against the outcome of the governorship poll. The tribunal found that the petitioners failed to provide any substantial proof to challenge the results of the election.
The APC and its candidate had appealed the tribunal’s decision, but the Court of Appeal rejected their appeal, ruling that it was incompetent and constituted an abuse of the court process. The panel explained that there was no cogent proof founded on law to quash the earlier judgment of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
With this decision, Governor Douye Diri’s re-election is now formally confirmed, and he will continue to serve as the governor of Bayelsa State.
