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The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Tribunal has dismissed a fresh appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, David Lyon. This effectively ends Lyon’s chances of challenging the victory of the incumbent governor, Duoye Diri, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Lyon had previously challenged the results of the November 2019 governorship election, citing irregularities. However, the Supreme Court disqualified his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, due to certificate forgery, rendering their joint ticket invalid. This latest appeal focused on alleged electoral malpractice by the PDP.
The Tribunal chairman, Justice Halima Mohammed, ruled that the fresh evidence presented by the APC lacked merit and failed to overturn the results of the election. Justice Mohammed stated, “The petitioners have not been able to prove the allegations of over-voting and violence at the polls.”
This decision is a major blow to the APC’s ambitions in Bayelsa State. The party had hoped to reclaim the governorship after losing it to the PDP in the 2019 election. The PDP has hailed the verdict as a victory for democracy and the will of the Bayelsa people.
