Bayelsa guber poll: Diri, INEC, PDP ask S/Court to dismiss Sylva, APC’s appeal

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has requested the Supreme Court to throw out the appeal challenging his election victory, filed by the APC’s governorship candidate in the Bayelsa election.

Diri argued before the Supreme Court that Timipre Sylva’s appeal was irredeemably flawed, lacking any supporting witnesses or documents to justify the relief sought.

At Monday’s proceedings, Diri, represented by Mr. Chris Uche (SAN), maintained that the appeal was devoid of merit and should be dismissed in its entirety.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Mr. Charles Edoshomwan, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), represented by Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), all supported the call for the dismissal of the appeal for want of merit.

Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), counsel for Sylva, asked the Justices to quash the judgments of the lower courts, specifically the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which had rejected his client’s petition.

Sylva specifically requested that the Supreme Court invalidate INEC’s declaration of Diri as the winner of the gubernatorial poll and declare him the lawful winner of the election.

Following the submission of arguments by the lawyers, Justice Garba Lawal reserved judgment, with the date for the ruling to be communicated to the parties later.