Court joins Dickson, PDP in Sylva's suit against INEC

By The Citizen

A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Wednesday, granted Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leave to be joined as parties in a suit  by the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, against Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking to be  declared winner of the 2012 governorship election in the state.

The court also adjourned till March 18 for further hearing in the case.

Sylva, in the suit, is praying the court to direct INEC to declare him the winner of the last governorship election or in the alternative, conduct a fresh election, with him as PDP candidate.

He also wants the court to determine, among others, 'whether having regard to the provisions of Section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Supreme Court judgment in the consolidated appeals of Marwa vs Nyako (2012) 5 NWLR, delivered on January 27, 2012, wherein the court held that the tenure of the plaintiff as the governor of Bayelsa State had long expired since May 29, 2011, the gubernatorial election in Balyesa State became due since April 29, 2011.'

Governor Dickson and PDP, in their joinder application, are praying the court to join them as respondents in the suit.

Granting their prayers, trial judge,  Justice Charles Archibong ordered them to be joined in the suit and adjourned hearing till March 18.