The Appeal Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate Timipre Sylva, challenging the victory of Governor Seriake Dickson in the Bayelsa state governorship election.
Appeal Court upholds Gov Dickson’s victory
According to the five man panel presided over by Justice Olukayode Bada, Sylva and his party failed to prove the allegations of corruption, substantial noncompliance, gross violation of the electoral act and other malpractices in the conduct of the election, Vanguard reports.
The court in a unanimous decision said that the foundation of the ground upon which the appellants based his case that the December 6, 2015 election was unilaterally cancelled by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner was eroded, having participated fully in the rescheduled election of January 9, 2016.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Bada said: “It was established beyond doubt that the decision to shift December 6, 2015 election to January 9,2016 was taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission and parties who participated in the polls.
“The contention of the appellant has no merit. They were expected to leave evidence to prove their claim that the election was marred by irregularities, electoral malpractices, and allocation of votes and gross violation of electoral act. These allegations were not proved by the appellants.
“Am in total agreement with the judgement of the lower tribunal because its decision was based on the evidence place before it.”
The APC and Sylva had asked the court to set-aside the decision of the election tribunal, sack Dickson and order fresh governorship election in Bayelsa state.
NAIJ.com recalls that the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, July 26, upheld the election of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state.
In a unanimous decision, the three-man tribunal, led by Justice Kazeem Aloba, said the APC failed to prove its case.
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