The Court of Appeal has dismissed the petition filed by the Labour Party and its governorship candidate Udengmobofa Eradiri, challenging the election of Governor Douye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party as governor of Bayelsa State in the November 2023 election.
The three-judge panel of the appellate court upheld the tribunal’s decision, stating that the Labour Party’s petition lacked merit.
The court ruled that Eradiri and his party failed to substantiate their claims of non-qualification and certificate forgery against Governor Diri and his deputy.
Additionally, the court agreed with the tribunal’s decision that the petition was abandoned since it was not signed by either the petitioners or their counsel, as required by law.
The court noted that the issue of alleged forged documents attached to form EC8 submitted to INEC by the third respondent is a pre-election matter and should not have been brought before the tribunal.
The panel also awarded costs of two hundred thousand Naira against the appellant in favor of each of the respondents in the appeal.