Dickson hails Judiciary as APC loses at Appeal Court

News Express |22nd Sep 2016 | 2,724

Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has commended the judiciary for asserting its independence and steadfastness in protecting the sanctity of the ballot as well as upholding itself as the bastion of the nation’s democracy.

His comment came Thursday afternoon, following the judgement of the Appeal Court, which upheld the earlier judgement of the Bayelsa State governorship election petition tribunal in favour of the governor.

Former governor, Timipre Sylva, had petitioned the appellate court seeking to upturn the decision of the tribunal.

But, in its judgement in Abuja Thursday, the Appeal Court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed Sylva’s petition as lacking in merit and affirmed Dickson’s election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It held that the APC failed to provide credible, cogent and convincing evidence for their appeal.

The five-man panel of justices of the Appeal Court led by Justice Olukayode Bada faulted Sylva on the various grounds of his petition, noting in particular that, contrary to the petition, no credible election took place on December 6, 2016 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Sylva had premised his argument on the cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw, as the sole action of INEC, thereby contravening the law.

But, both the tribunal and the Appeal court thought otherwise.

Dickson, in the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, called on Timipre Sylva, to stop the flagrant abuse of the judicial process and the needless distractions designed at overheating the polity.

He noted that the judgement indicated that, the resolve of the people did not go in vain, as he called for greater vigilance to protect democracy in the country.

•Photo shows Governor Dickson.

Comments

Post Comment

Bandits violate peace deal, abduct university student, others in Katsina

Nigerian poisoned in Burkina Faso, rescued by Okpebholo

Anthony Joshua set for first fight in Africa next year, FG gives backing

Step-by-step guide for checking 2025 NECO results

Dele Momodu hosts Peter Obi for breakfast in Accra

Rivers Emergency Rule: Rights group moves for impeachment of CJN Kekere-Ekun

4,000 CNG Trucks: Probe Dangote’s road safety records, DAPPMAN tells FRSC

NELFUND: Students raise job, repayment concerns

Police announce burial arrangements for ex-IG Arase

Fire Disaster: Elumelu aborts US trip, mourns victims

Traditional rulers’ stool tears Ebonyi community apart as govt intervenes, calls for peace

Itsekiri youths allege territorial plot, urges Delta govt to restore order

INEC alerts Nigerians against fake recruitment scheme

Abia lawmaker dumps APC for Labour Party

CAN urges regulation of church-run maternity homes in Cross River

Adamawa govt. demolishes 2,000 illegal shops in Yola

Takang, Ladid lead Africa’s digital sovereignty debate at DACE 2025

Emerge Women hosts special dialogue on reserved seats bill under SheThePeople Platform

Group seeks urgent action to rescue 600 trafficked children from Kano

Osun JUSUN issues 3-day warning strike over unpaid entitlements

Thursday, September 18, 2025 2:16 AM

GOCOP Accredited Member

NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.