The Supreme Court has upheld the reelection of Senator Duoye Diri as the Governor of Bayelsa State, dismissing the appeal filed by Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11, 2023, off-cycle election.
Justice Lawal Garba leading a five-member panel of the Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeal’s July 15 decision, which declared Sylva’s appeal an abuse of court process due to the filing of two notices of appeal.
The Apex Court cited a provision of the 1999 Constitution, clarifying that the APC Governorship candidate is entitled to only one appeal against the Tribunal’s judgment, not multiple appeals. Consequently, the Court faulted Sylva’s decision to file two notices of appeal.
In a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared that Governor Duoye Diri of the PDP secured 175,196 votes, defeating Timipre Sylva of the APC, who received 110,108 votes.