APC and Timipre Sylva Urge Disbandment of Bayelsa Tribunal Panel, Citing Alleged Bias and Denial of Fair Hearing

The ongoing legal battle over the Bayelsa State Governorship Election took a dramatic turn as the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Timipre Sylva, have petitioned the President of the Court of Appeal, seeking the disbandment and reconstitution of the Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal. The petition alleges bias and a denial of their constitutional right to fair hearing, resulting in an indefinite adjournment of the proceedings until a decision is reached by the Court of Appeal President.

In the petition, the APC and Sylva claimed that the Tribunal's actions have violated their rights to a fair hearing, a fundamental requirement in legal proceedings. Among the grievances stated, they asserted that despite having lined up 234 witnesses, the Tribunal imposed a stringent timeline of seven days for the entire witness testimony. Furthermore, the petition highlighted an agreement to call 25 witnesses daily, but the Tribunal restricted them to only 8 witnesses per day, severely limiting their ability to present a comprehensive case.

The petition strongly contended that these actions by the Tribunal amount to a blatant breach of their right to fair hearing, especially considering that the Tribunal had three months remaining to conclude its proceedings. Additionally, the APC and Sylva accused the Tribunal of displaying a predisposition against them by making comments and observations that indicated a predetermined stance in favor of the respondents.

One of the significant grievances in the petition was the alleged distortion of oral testimonies of their witnesses in the records of proceedings. The APC and Sylva claimed that the Tribunal had made findings and decisions regarding the authenticity and weight of polling unit election results they had tendered, further compromising their right to a fair and unbiased hearing.

In response to these allegations, the APC and Sylva demanded the immediate dissolution of the Tribunal and the establishment of a new one that would conduct proceedings without bias in the remaining three months of the petition's lifespan.

During the recent proceedings, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, informed the legal representatives of the involved parties about the petition questioning the members' neutrality and integrity. Justice Adeleye expressed his uncertainty about where the Tribunal might have erred, opening the floor for reactions from the counsels.

Representatives for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongly refuted the allegations of bias and distortion made by the APC and Sylva. Despite their objections, both parties eventually agreed to the indefinite adjournment requested by the petitioners, paving the way for a potential reconsideration of the Tribunal's composition.

The legal battle revolves around the APC and Timipre Sylva's challenge to the re-election of Governor Duoye Diri of the PDP. The outcome of the petition and the decisions made regarding the alleged bias will significantly influence the trajectory of the ongoing legal proceedings. The call for the disbandment and reconstitution of the Tribunal underscores the high stakes and the intensity of the political and legal contestations in Bayelsa State.