Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said that the judgement of the Supreme Court, which affirmed his victory in the November 11, 2023 governorship election, was a triumph of truth over falsehood and evil.
The Supreme Court on Friday, August 23, upheld the re-election of Senator Diri as governor after it dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva.
Justice Garba Lawal who led the five-member panel of justices upheld the July 18, 2024 decision of the Court of Appeal which asserted that Sylva’s appeal was an abuse of court process, especially for filing two notices of appeal.
In the unanimous judgment, the apex court said the ap0peal of Sylva and the APC was incompetent and lacking in merit and therefore could not stand.
Diri, who spoke in Abuja after the apex court verdict, said the victory was not for him or his deputy alone but also for the people of the state whose choice was validated by the courts.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that his court victories have renewed his hope in the judiciary and democracy.
He said no matter the level of hardship in the country, the forthrightness of the judiciary has assured him that there is light at the end of the tunnel and called on all Nigerians to be hopeful for a better country.
Speaking on what people of the state should expect in his second term, Governor Douye Diri said his administration had started well and that it will consolidate on the gains so far 5and even introduce new programmes and policies that will benefit the people.
Diri said: "This victory is not for me. It is not for the deputy governor. It is for the people of the state.
“We have started on good ground, and we will not disappoint our people. We will even introduce new programmes that will be beneficial to our people.
“From the election and the tribunal to the Supreme Court, we won four-zero. This is the triumph of truth over falsehood and evil. There is hope for democracy in Nigeria.”
