The Supreme Court has affirmed the reelection of Senator Douye Diri as Governor of Bayelsa State, dismissing the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva. In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Garba Lawal, the apex court ruled that Sylva’s appeal was not only without merit but also a blatant abuse of the judicial process.
This decision comes after the Court of Appeal in Abuja, on July 18, 2024, upheld the earlier ruling of the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. The tribunal, led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, had dismissed Sylva and the APC’s petition on May 27, 2024, citing a lack of credible evidence to support their claims against Diri’s victory in the November 11, 2023, governorship election. The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision effectively closes the chapter on the legal challenges surrounding Governor Diri’s reelection.
