Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrujakpo, are anticipated to open their protection earlier than the Governorship Tribunal in Abuja subsequent week.
The All Progressives Congress and its candidate for the gubernatorial election, Timipre Sylva, are contesting the re-election of the governor and his deputy.
The Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee had declared Diri the winner of the election after he polled 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sylva of the APC, who scored 110,108 votes.
Dissatisfied, Sylva and APC approached the tribunal to problem the declaration of Diri because the winner of the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial election.
Sylva and the APC allege that elections had been held at some polling stations in three native governments of Southern Ijaw, Ogbia and Nembe, the place INEC and the opposite respondents claimed there was no election.
The petitioners claimed that if the outcomes of those native governments had been added to their votes, they might win the elections.
They urged the tribunal to carry the elections on the mentioned polling stations of three native governments and declared them the winners.
On the opening of the listening to on the petition on February 14, 2024, INEC introduced proof to the tribunal in assist of its declare that no voting was held as a result of alleged diversion of supplies and disruption of the electoral course of as a result of alleged circumvention of the BVAS machine.
Nonetheless, on Thursday, after calling 4 witnesses, the petitioners requested for an adjournment in order that they may name extra witnesses to show their case.
Because the request for adjournment was not opposed by the respondents, the chairman of the three-member panel of the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, introduced on Monday and Tuesday subsequent week that the trial would proceed.
The petitioners are anticipated to shut their circumstances subsequent week, after which the governor, his deputy and the PDP will open their circumstances.
