Ahead of Tuesday’s judgment by the Supreme Court on the Bayelsa State governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the All Progressives Congress is trying to manipulate the ruling.
The opposition party, therefore, advised the Supreme Court to stand firm against any manipulations.
The apex court will deliver a ruling on an appeal filed by Timipre Sylva, the APC flag bearer, against the election of Seriake Dickson of the PDP, as Bayelsa Governor.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Dayo Adeyeye, in a statement, said “The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on November 8, 2016 deliver Judgment on the Appeals of Chief Timipre Sylva and the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) against the Judgments of the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, both of which upheld the Election of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State”.
“This Judgment comes at a time when the Judiciary is facing an onslaught from the Ruling Party using the apparatus and instruments of State. This Judgment will be given in the face of allegations, by Justices of the Supreme Court no less, that senior members of APC and Ministers in this administration attempted to bribe judges to subvert the course of justice in similar suits relating to elections in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti and Rivers States.
“We are aware that these people and other senior members of APC are again, putting pressure on Justices of the Supreme Court to pervert the course of justice by overturning the decisions of the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal to nullify the Mandate freely given to Governor Seriake Dickson by the people of Bayelsa State.
“We reiterate our belief that the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man and the bastion upon which our entire democracy rests. We believe that there are men and women of integrity, with proven track records in the dispensation of justice who ensure that justice is not only done but is also seen to be done. We urge the Justices of the Supreme Court to ignore this pressure and give judgment in line with the dictates of our Constitution, electoral laws and good conscience”, the party said.