BEVERLY HILLS, JULY 26, (THEWILL) – The Bayelsa governorship election tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petition of Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who sought to upturn the election of Seriake Dickson, incumbent governor of Bayelsa state.
Sylva had challenged the victory of Dickson at the tribunal after losing the governorship election last year.
He had asked the tribunal to declare him the duly elected governor and tendered video evidence showing electoral malpractice allegedly perpetrated by Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, the tribunal, in its ruling on Tuesday, upheld the election of Dickson.
Felix Okoroti, counsel to Sylva, told journalists that he would discuss with his client on the next line of action, while Aliu Umar, counsel to Dickson, praised the tribunal for its judgement on the matter.
THEWILL recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Dickson, winner of the election, announcing that he polled 134,998 votes to defeat Sylva, a former governor of the state, who scored 86,852 votes to place second.
Story by David Oputah
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