Supreme Court Affirms Dickson’s Election As Bayelsa Governor

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The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governor Seriake Dickson as the governor of Bayelsa state.

In a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Ibrahim Tanko, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by his opponent in the governorship election, Mr Timipre Sylva on the ground that it lacked merit.

The court also dismissed the cross appeal filed by Mr Dickson challenging the locus standi of Mr Sylva to file an election petition when he was not qualified to contest the election having been previously elected on two occasions as governor of Bayelsa state.

Reasons for the judgement will be delivered on November 18, 2016.

Mr Sylva approached the Supreme Court after the Appeal Court also unanimously dismissed his appeal challenging the victory of Governor Seriake Dickson in the Bayelsa State governorship election.

The court in a unanimous decision of a five man panel presided over by Justice Olukayode Bada resolved all the five issues raised by Mr Sylva and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in favour of Governor Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Bada, who delivered the lead judgement, held that 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.

He 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

He added that 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.