Bayelsa guber: Appeal Court dismisses UPC’s suit

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja Thursday dismissed the appeal filed against the election of Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa by the United Peoples’ Congress (UPC) and its governorship candidate, Mr Stephen Ibiene.

The party and its candidate are currently appealing the outcome of the last gubernatorial election in the state as delivered by the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

In a unanimous decision, the court dismissed the appeal for want of diligent prosecution, alleging that the appellants abandoned the appeal.

This medium reports that the Tribunal had on Aug. 17, dismissed the petition of the UCP and its governorship candidate for failing to prove allegations made against the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

Not satisfied, the party then approached the appellate court asking the court to set aside the decision of the tribunal.

But when the matter was called by the court, there was no representation from the appellant.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsels to Diri, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party Mr Chris Uche SAN, Mr Yunus Ustaz SAN and Mr Emmanuel Idem announced appearance for their clients.

While ruling on the matter, the five -man panel of Justices, presided over by Justice Adzira Mshella unanimously dismissed the appeal.

Earlier, the panel had reserved judgment in Diri’s appeal against the majority judgment of the tribunal which ordered his sack.

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