In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld Senator Douye Diri as the rightful governor of Bayelsa State, rejecting the appeal filed by Timipre Sylva and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Garba Lawal declared the appeal lacking in merit and an abuse of the court process. This unanimous decision aligns with previous rulings by the Court of Appeal and the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
The Court of Appeal had earlier upheld the tribunal’s decision, dismissing Sylva’s petition due to insufficient evidence. The tribunal, led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, found that Sylva and APC failed to provide credible evidence to challenge the November 11, 2023, governorship election results.
With this Supreme Court verdict, Diri’s re-election victory is reaffirmed, bringing closure to the legal battles surrounding the Bayelsa State governorship election.
