Sylva Develops Cold Feet At Tribunal, Accuses Panel Of Bias

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 11, 2023 poll in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has dramatically turned around to accuse the election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja of bias and unfair hearing.

He has consequently written a petition to President of the Court of Appeal requesting the disbandment of the tribunal.

Sylva alongside his party had last week Wednesday closed their case challenging the victory of Governor Douye Diri in the November election.

The APC candidate called 52 witnesses, including a former Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Tolani Alausa, and the party’s chairman, Chief Dennis Otiotio, who testified before the tribunal.

At the resumed hearing on Monday for Governor Diri and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to open their defence, Sylva’s counsel informed the tribunal that a petition had been submitted to the Appeal Court president alleging bias against the chairman, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, and the panel members.

In his response, Mr. Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is counsel to the second respondent, Governor Diri, condemned the action of the plaintiff as unprofessional and that the allegation against the panel members was unfounded.

He said: “We strongly condemn the unprofessional act of writing such unmeritorious petitions simply because a party cognizant of the obvious weakness of his case and likelihood of failure because of want of evidence, looks for a scapegoat.

“The unfounded allegations are most uncharitable, and unfortunate, and the timing nothing but proof of the unseriousness of the petitioner to proceed with his case. We had asked for the petition to be dismissed.”

Counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Charles Edosomwan, SAN and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN also adopted Mr. Uche’s position before the tribunal.

The matter was consequently adjourned indefinitely pending the decision of the appellate court president.