Bayelsa election: Supreme Court reserves judgement in Sylva’s appeal

The Supreme Court has reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the November 11, 2023, governorship election in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva.

The five-member justices headed by Justice Garba Lawal, on Monday, August 19, 2024, adjourned the judgement to a date that would be communicated to parties after counsel adopted their processes in the appeal.

Sylva’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), prayed the justices to set aside the judgements of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal which had earlier dismissed their petition.

Ikpeazu asked the apex court to invalidate the declaration of Governor Douye Diri by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the gubernatorial election and declare Sylva as the lawful winner of the poll.

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But Chris Uche (SAN), who appeared for Diri, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal brought against his client.

Uche insisted that Sylva’s appeal was bad beyond redemption, saying no witness or documents supported his request being made at the court.

He stated that the appeal was devoid of merit and should be dismissed in its entirety.

INEC, represented by Charles Edoshomwan, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), represented by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), supported Uche’s call for the dismissal of the appeal for want of merit.

The panel, thereafter, reserved judgement in the appeal.

The Star