A group, the Bayelsa Youth Professional Forum, yesterday claimed that core
loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the last
governorship election in the state,Timipre Sylva, were already in
celebration mood following the decision of the Appeal Court to reserve
ruling on his petition challenging the election of the state
governor, Seriake Dickson.
The APC and Sylva had approached the Appeal Court seeking nullification of
the judgement of the election petitions tribunal which earlier held that
Dickson was validly elected in the December/January election in the state.
But the Court of Appeal had last Tuesday in Abuja reserved ruling on the
matter. The court is also sitting on multiple appeals from
the judgement of the Bayelsa State governorship election petition
tribunal.
The group, in a statement yesterday, said that Sylva’s supporters were
rejoicing because of their hope that a favourable judgementwas in the
offing for the APC candidate at the Court of Appeal.
In the statement signed by its President, Barrister KennethDaziba, and
made available to the press in Abuja, the group also claimed that
the confidence of Sylva’s supporters grew when the Court of Appeal struck
out the preliminary objection filed by thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP)
against Sylva’s appealchallenging the judgement of the state election
petitions tribunal which upheld Dickson’s election.
According to Daziba, the said core loyalists have
“strategic individuals” in the state that they had received “firm
assurances” from a “key point man” in the Buhariadministration who
allegedly instructed the three-man panel of judges sitting on the matter
to give ruling in favour of the APC.
He alleged that Sylva had recently been
Villa trying to seek audience with PresidentMuhammadu Buhari on the
matter.
The group, however, warned on the potential danger of perverting justice
and implication for peace in the Niger Delta, noting that its concern on
the matter was “already a major source of worry in some
informed circles in the state”.
“Things are said to be looking up for Sylva given the outcome of the first
round of sitting at the appellate court which also refused the application
by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to amend its brief
by adding some words which it claimed were omitted. Sylva’s supporters are
really very hopeful because the thinking is that once the appellate court
grants them victory, it will simply prepare the ground for the Supreme
Court to affirm the appellate court decision given the fact that most of
the justices at the apex court are pro-APC. No wonder Sylva’s supporters
are in the mood of celebration right now. But we must all be concerned
about the price of any miscarriage of justice. This is why we are sending
this warning signal to the judiciary not to allow itself to be used or
manipulated by selfish politicians”, it stated.