The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday, tendered conflicting reports about the governorship election held in Bayelsa State on November 11, 2023.
The drama unfolded at the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, where both sides laid out their versions of the election results.
While INEC stood by its certified results, APC agents from various polling units presented different sets of data.
These conflicting reports stirred objections from multiple parties present. Presiding over the tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye admitted the reports as evidence for further consideration during the petition hearing.
The dispute arose following a petition filed by Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of Petroleum, and the APC against INEC, Governor Douye Diri, Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhirujakpo, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The petitioners contested alleged irregularities in three local councils—Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, and Nembe—where INEC claimed election disruptions and material diversion occurred.
At the onset of the hearing, an APC polling unit agent, Odungele Moses, testified under oath, asserting that the election transpired in his unit. However, during cross-examination, Moses admitted that only APC, out of 16 participating parties, endorsed the results he presented.
Another witness, Mallory Afin, presented APC results with matching accreditation numbers to INEC’s but showed discrepancies in party votes.