Bayelsa Guber Poll: Alaibe Reacts to Supreme Court Verdict

Former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, has reacted to the Supreme Court verdict that dismissed his appeal challenging the outcome of the 2019 Bayelsa State Governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

Alaibe in statement on Wednesday by his Personal Assistant, Ogio Enize, said he has accepted the judgement in good faith even though it failed to address the issues raised by the suit regarding the conduct of the primary election.

“ We have accepted it in good faith, however painful. We feel justified that from the trial court to the apex court, the repulsive processes that led to the primary were never endorsed by any of the courts” he said.

“In the course of considering the appeal, the apex court observed that the dispute agitating in the appeal was within the exclusive preserve of the political party; hence it could not be challenged by members of such a political party before any court of law.

“Thus, the court affirmed the supremacy of the political party to the effect that irrespective of any obvious or perceived irregularity in the processes leading to the nomination and sponsorship of candidates, the party’s decision remains final and that no court of law has the competence to adjudicate on such an issue.

“Based on observations and hints by the Supreme Court on this threshold issue, the lead Counsel to Alaibe, Chief I.A Adedipe SAN, in deference to the court, withdrew the appeal and same was accordingly dismissed.

“The merits of the appeal and the fundamental issues regarding the eligibility of the delegates that infested the Primary Election process was not determined and thus remained unresolved.

“Rather, the unquestionable though unsatisfying position of the apex court is that in accordance with existing laws and precedence, if complaints were outside the scope contemplated under Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act that provides for right of action in pre-election matters” he said.

“When criminality is ignored or allowed to continue unchallenged; those responsible for such actions and even the uninformed observers could accept it as a way of life” he added.