Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal Sets Date for Final Arguments

The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has scheduled April 22 for parties to present their final briefs of argument in the case filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, challenging the outcome of the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial poll in the state.

The tribunal, led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, approved the matter for the adoption of addresses after Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Lawrence Awhrujakpo, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were cited as respondents, concluded their defense.

Each respondent presented a witness who testified before the tribunal and submitted several electoral documents as evidence.

Governor Diri’s witness, Mr. Gesiye Isowo, identified himself as the Secretary of the PDP in Bayelsa State and tendered his party membership card, Permanent Voters Card, and official election result documents.

During cross-examination, Isowo stated that the voters’ registers used for the election were the same as those used for the National Assembly election.

However, the petitioners argued that the registers were not furnished to them beforehand, as directed by the tribunal.

The witness further claimed that some voters’ registers were not ticked because elections did not hold in those areas.

He also alleged that the results presented by the petitioners were manufactured by the APC.

In his defense, the deputy governor, Lawrence Awhrujakpo, produced a former Permanent Secretary as his witness, who confirmed Awhrujakpo’s legal qualifications.

Te PDP also presented a former Attorney General of Bayelsa State as its witness, who asserted that Sylva could not have been validly sponsored by the APC, having already served as governor twice.

After all respondents closed their defense, the tribunal adjourned the matter for adoption of final arguments, directing the parties to file and exchange their respective processes before the adjourned date.