Supreme Court upholds Gov. Diri’s election

The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the re-election victory of Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The apex court dismissed the appeal submitted by Mr. Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

Presided over by Justice Lawal Garba, the Supreme Court panel upheld the Court of Appeal’s earlier July 15 decision, declaring Sylva’s appeal to be an abuse of the court’s process due to the submission of two separate notices of appeal.

The Supreme Court panel, referencing Section 246(1) of the 1999 Constitution, ruled that the APC governorship candidate had utilized his sole appeal opportunity by filing the initial notice, and consequently, the submission of a second notice of appeal was considered invalid and impermissible, as it contravened the constitutional provision limiting appeals to a single filing.

The court faulted Sylva for attempting to appeal the tribunal’s judgment twice.

The apex court unanimously threw out the appeal, declaring it devoid of merit and unworthy of further consideration.

According to the official results announced by INEC, Diri of the PDP secured a total of 175,196 votes, surpassing his main challenger, Sylva of the APC, who garnered 110,108 votes, thereby emerging victorious in the election.