According to the statement, the decision to appeal the judgment was taken at the meeting and Sylva also directed his legal team to make the necessary preparation.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State last November, Timipre Sylva, has expressed his disappointment at the election petition tribunal which ruled in favour of Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A three-man panel led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye on Monday agreed with INEC that Diri polled 175,196 votes while Sylva scored 110,108 votes at the poll.
Ruling unanimously, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove any credible evidence to back up any of the allegations they raised against the re-election of Diri.
The tribunal held that the petitioners’ prayers were contradictory, adding that Sylva and APC did not tender any electoral material to show that any irregularity occurred during the election.
However, Sylva expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru, saying he was heading for the Court of Appeal to liberate Bayelsans.
READ ALSO: Tribunal affirms Diri’s re-election as Bayelsa governor
The statement said he immediately held a meeting with elders and stakeholders of the party after the judgment.
According to the statement, the decision to appeal the judgment was taken at the meeting and Sylva also directed his legal team to make the necessary preparation.
Bokoru recalled that Sylva had earlier accused the tribunal of bias following several infractions observed by his lawyers during the hearing of the case.
Sylva said: “We are not satisfied with the decision of the tribunal. But this is just a court of first instance and after meeting with the elders and critical stakeholders of our great party, the APC, we directed our legal team to seek justice for Bayelsa at the Supreme Court.”
But Governor Diri welcomed the tribunal verdict, saying it would serve as motivation for him to serve the state better.
