Ex-Sokoto Gov hails Bayelsa Gov’s Supreme Court victory
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Sokoto South Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has congratulated the Governor of Bayelsa State, Honourable Duoye Diri whose victory at the recent governorship election in the state was reaffirmed by Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday August 23, 2024.
In a post on his X handle, the former Sokoto State Governor described the apex court’s ruling as a well deserved victory for the former member of the House of Representatives who recently won in the solo governorship election that took place in the state.
The DEFENDER reports that a five-member panel of the Supreme Court of Nigeria had on Friday ruled affirmed Diri’s re-election shortly after dismissing the appeal filed by All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Governorship Candidate, Timipre Sylva.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, the apex court held that Sylva’s appeal was grossly incompetent and an abuse of court process. The panel subsequently upheld the concurrent judgments of the Court of Appeal and Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which earlier dismissed the case for lacking in merit.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the November 11, 2024 governorship poll after he scored a total of 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sylva of the APC who polled 110,108votes.
Reacting to the Supreme Court affirmation of the governor’s election, his former Sokoto State counterpart and ex-Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, called the highest court’s decision a historic verdict.
“Today (Friday), the Supreme Court delivered a historic verdict that reaffirms the people’s choice of His Excellency, @govdouyediri, in the recent election.
“I join countless Bayelsans in celebrating this well-deserved victory, which is a testament to his unwavering commitment to Bayelsa state.
“During his first term, Governor Diri demonstrated exceptional leadership. His dedication has significantly improved the lives of the citizens. I am confident that he will continue to build upon this progress and ensure a brighter future for Bayelsa.
“I extend my warmest congratulations to brother and friend Governor Diri and wish him continued success in his second term – AWT.”
