The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, yesterday, dismissed a fresh motion filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, seeking the disqualification of members of the panel from proceeding with their petition challenging the election of Governor Douye Diri.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, dismissed the motion after he took arguments from Sylva’s counsel, Tunde Falola, that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Charles Edosanwan, the governor’s counsel, Chris Uche, that of the Deputy Governor, Chukwuma Machukwu Ume, and for the peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tayo Oyetibo.
Justice Adekeye, in a brief ruling, held that a letter from the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) on March 5 mandated the tribunal to proceed with hearing of the petition, irrespective of any application by the parties.
He, therefore, said the PCA’s letter had overtaken the request by the petitioners for the disbandment of the tribunal. Sylva’s lawyer, Falola, had argued that his clients filed the fresh application against the tribunal on the ground that the two petitioners are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that they cannot get justice from members of the panel.
The two petitioners further stated that the tribunal had exhibited strange circumstances that made them believe that they would be denied fair hearing.
He, therefore, asked the tribunal to, in the interest of justice, step aside from the petition and allow other members to be constituted by the PCA to determine their petition within the little time remaining for the expiration of case hearing.
Meanwhile, all the respondents, through their respective lawyers, opposed the request for the panel members to recuse themselves. They argued that the application was an attempt to prevent the respondents from presenting their defence against the petition. They stated that the motion by APC and Sylva was a calculated attempt to blackmail the tribunal members to do their bidding.
