In an unusual scenario, the Supreme Court on Friday denied journalists and other individuals entrance into the courtroom as the judgement for the governorship election disputes in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi was delivered by the highest court of the land.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the judgement was fixed by the court today (NAN). The elections were conducted on Nov. 11, 2023, to elect the governor for the three states; the elections were conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
When lawyers, litigants, journalists and supporters arrived at the court on Friday, the individuals found it difficult to gain entrance into the courtroom as the entrance was prevented by police officers and private security guards from Halogen Security.
The judgement was presided over by a five-member panel led by Justice Garba Lawal.
The panel will on Friday deliver judgement in the pettions brought before the court by the APC governorship candidate in Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva; PDP candidate in Imo, Samuel Anyanwu and Murtala Ajaka of Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s candidate in Kogi, the judgement was to begin by 2 pm in the nations capital.
The petitioners were challenging the election victory of Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa (PDP), Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo (APC) and Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi (APC).
On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld Governor Douye Diri’s re-election as Bayelsa’s governor.
After the beginning of the proceeding in the court, the apex court dismissed the apple of the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Timipre Sylvia, and his party.
In the judgement delivered by Justice Garba Lawal noted that the appeal by the candidate of the APC was not only lacking merit but violated the court processes.
The judgement has stayed with the decision of the earlier decision by the Appeal Court and the Election Petition Tribunal delivered separately.
On July 18, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed the reelection of the Bayelsa state governor in an election held on November 11, 2023 governorship polls. The judgement was delivered by a three-member panel of justices led by Justice James Abundaga. They noted that the appeal brought before it by the APC candidate lacked merit.
They also stated that the judgement delivered by the tribunal was not in error; the election tribunal had delivered its judgement on May 27, 2024.
