Tribunal upholds Dickson's election as Bayelsa governor

The Bayelsa State Governorship Electoral Petitions Tribunal on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the last governorship election in the state, Timipre Sylva, challenging the victory of the incumbent Governor of the state, Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

The three-man panel of the tribunal led by Justice Kazeem Alogba, in dismissing the petition, held that Sylva and its party failed to prove their case with credible evidence.

It held that criminal allegations of various electoral offences, which the petitioners stated affected the outcome of the election, were not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

It held that the petition was not backed by proof and required standard.

Responding, the highly elated Governor Dickson described his victory at the tribunal as 'victory for democracy and the people of Bayelsa'.

The governor who spoke through a statement signed by Daniel Iworiso-Markson, his Chief Press Secretary, said that the judgment also 'indicated that the resolve of the people did not go in vain'.

He also commended the judiciary 'for upholding our nation's democracy and once again acquitting itself as the bastion of our democracy.'

'We want to use this opportunity to thank the good people of Bayelsa State for voting en-masse for the PDP and defending their votes even in the face of such virulent intimidation and harassment. This judgement is clearly a victory for democracy and the resilient and courageous people of Bayelsa', he said.

In its reaction, the state chapter of the PDP stated that the verdict of the panel had reaffirmed the popularity of Dickson in Bayelsa.

Mr. Osom Makbere, the party's publicity secretary, said that a contrary judgment would have jolted many who were witnesses to what transpired at the election.

He added that given the fact that the APC candidate won only in his local government area, 'the confidence of the people in the judiciary would have waned' if the ruling pronounced otherwise.

Efforts to get the reaction of Sylva's camp and comments of chieftains of the APC in the state proved abortive as calls placed to their phones could not connect. - Daily Independent.