Timipire Sylva, the immediate past Minister of Petroleum, will appear before the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja today, Tuesday, to testify against the proclamation of Governor Douye Diri as the winner of Bayelsa State’s governorship election on November 11, 2023.
Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, will testify as a star witness in his lawsuit to overturn Diri’s election as governor.
According to a hearing notice obtained by DAILY POST, the APC governorship candidate’s principal counsel, Ahmed Raji, and Ogwu James Onoja, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, will present evidence.
The former Minister, who also served as the governor of Bayelsa State, is likely to tell the Tribunal his side of the story about the previous gubernatorial election.
Diri, the election winner and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, would cross-examine Sylva on the authenticity of the statements and allegations the witness may make.
Governor Diri is represented in the Tribunal by a group of prominent lawyers lead by Chris Uche, SAN.
In addition, the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, which handled the disputed election, will be allowed to cross-examine the APC governorship candidate on his election-related charges.
According to the Returning Officer, Professor Faruq Kuta of PDP and Diri received 175,196 votes, defeating his nearest challenger, Timipre Sylva of APC, who received 110,108 votes.
Sylva and the APC were dissatisfied and petitioned the tribunal to question Diri’s designation as the election winner.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, will preside over today’s hearing.