Court of Appeal Upholds Douye Diri’s Victory in 2023 Governorship Election
Just four months after the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal concluded the final arguments in the case filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, challenging the outcome of the November 11, 2023, gubernatorial election, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld Douye Diri’s election as the governor of Bayelsa State today.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Timipre Sylva.
The Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the lower tribunal, which had previously ruled that the petitioners failed to substantiate their case with credible evidence. On May 27, the tribunal concluded that the APC and Timipre Sylva did not provide sufficient proof to support their allegations against the election results.
Among its findings, the tribunal had dismissed additional evidence presented by the petitioners, noting that it was not filed within the legal timeframe of 21 days. Furthermore, statements on oath from some witnesses were deemed incompetent and were struck out by the tribunal.
One of the key allegations contested during the tribunal proceedings was related to the educational qualifications of Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the deputy governor of Bayelsa State. The tribunal ruled that this allegation constituted a pre-election matter that should have been addressed in the Federal High Court. It also noted that a competent court had already adjudicated on the issue of Ewhrudjakpo’s educational credentials.
Today’s decision by the Court of Appeal marks a significant development in the legal battle over the Bayelsa governorship election. The ruling affirms Douye Diri as the validly elected governor of Bayelsa State, reinforcing the outcome of the 2023 gubernatorial poll.
Stakeholders and observers are closely monitoring the aftermath of the court’s decision, which is expected to have implications for political dynamics and Douye Diri’s governance in Bayelsa State moving forward.
