It was a day of knocks, chastisement and rebuke for the Bayelsa State APC chairman, Dennis Otiotio as the election petition tribunal descended on the lawyer for his role in the writing of fictitious election results, following the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial election which produced Senaor Douye Diri of the PDP as winner.
Mr Justice Adekunle Adeleye, chairman of the tribunal who read the unanimous judgement said it was unfortunate that as a lawyer, Otiotio was engaged in some conducts that were against his calling as a lawyer.
The tribunal chairman said it was wrong for Otiotio to testify as witness during the hearing, when he was also a member of the APC legal team. The hardest of the knocks had to do with Otiotio’s involvement in the writing of misleading results and the tribunal did not take it kindly.
The open rebuke came even as the tribunal saw the petition of the APC gubernatorial candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva as useless and lacking in merit and did not waste time in throwing it away.
Responding to the judgement, the governor dedicated his second victory over Sylva to people of the state, saying it would spur him to serve the state better in his second term and described Sylva’s legal action as a needless distraction.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, the governor noted that by the judgement, the judiciary had again proven that it remained the last hope for the common man.
He said: “Once again, l use this opportunity to thank my people of Bayelsa State who graciously and freely gave me this mandate. lt is actually not my victory but it is for the people of Bayelsa.
“As l always pledge, our administration is people-focused and people-oriented. So this will again give us a better latitude to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. “
Describing the judgement as very sound and one of the best that had been delivered in such election petition matters, he said there was still hope for the country.
According to the governor, “matters like these are mere distractions in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people, particularly against the backdrop that we had an election that was adjudged to be one of the freest and the fairest. And yet we have been distracted over this period. I want to let Bayelsa people know that we are still for you and will continue to work for you and walk with you until the final day of our administration.”
Diri expressed appreciation to his legal team for its commitment and passion and all those who worked hard towards securing a sound judgement.
Responding to a question if he was disposed to working with his political opponents, the governor stressed that his administration would work with only those who have had a change of heart and were interested in collaborating with his Prosperity Government in bringing meaningful development to the state.
He emphasised that the days of rigging of elections were over. “The days where you threaten your own people, chase them out of their own land, intimidate them and go and write results are over. So if they change from those ways, l will work with them.”
The tribunal also dismissed the allegation that the deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, tendered a forged university certificate and NYSC exemption certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying it was a pre-election matter that ought to be determined by a high court instead.
Meanwhile, Sylva has given the indication of his rejection of the judgement. His media aide, Julius Bokoru told TNN over the telephone that a formal statement was being done to reflect Sylva’s position on the tribunal judgment.
As at press time, the statement was yet to be ready.
