Gov. Diri speaks on Supreme Court victory over Alaibe

Tuesday, July 14, 2020 8:37 pm

Gov Douye Diri,

Governor Douye Diri on Tuesday described the dismissal of the suit challenging his validity as the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the November 2019 governorship election of Bayelsa State as a triumph of democracy.

Former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe had challenged the outcome of the PDP primary which produce Diri, claiming he should be the authentic candidate of the party.

However, Alaibe had lost the suits to Diri at the lower courts.

On Tuesday, a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour finally put paid to the suit when they informed Alaibe that his case could not be categorised as a pre-election case that a court could entertain but about an internal affair of the party which the court lacked jurisdiction to hear.

Thus, Alaibe’s lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe was forced to withdraw the appeal.

Speaking to journalists soon after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, Diri was sworn in on Feb. 14, a day after the Supreme Court sacked the former governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon, and his Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo averred that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man in the country.

“Clearly and transparently, the Justices have displayed uprightness. They have also displayed that the Supreme Court is indeed the last court in Nigeria.

“I want to appreciate them and I believe and pray that God will continue to guide them, use them to do justice to all manner of people.”

In a press statement, Daniel Alabrah,the Acting Chief Press Secretary to Diri quoted the governor appreciating Bayelsans home and abroad as well as lovers of the state government for their prayers while promising not to fail them.