The Supreme Court comprising a seven-man panel Wednesday affirmed the election of the Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri and his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as duly elected.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, the Apex Court quashed the six appeals filed against the governor and his deputy.
Recall that the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), Labour Movement (LM) and Accord Party (AP) had filed the said appeal that has now been dismissed by the apex court.
In his judgment, Justice Ngwuta hinged the dismissal of the appeals on the withdrawal of the six appeals by lawyers of the appellants.
Meanwhile, Diri’s victory has before now challenged a number of times but the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja had at different times affirmed Diri as the duly elected governor of the state.
Lyon’s election was nullified after his deputy was accused of submitting forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Consequently, Governor Duoye Diri was sworn in on February 14, a day after the Supreme Court sacked the former governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon, and his Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo.
