Troops deploy as Nigerian oil state election quashed

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, April 15 (Reuters) – Troops deployed on the streets of the main city in Nigeria’s oil-producing Bayelsa state on Tuesday after a court quashed the election of its governor and ordered a fresh vote within 90 days.

An appeals court in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt annulled the election of Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the tenth such ruling since nationwide elections a year ago marred by irregularities.


Judge Saka Ibiyeye said Sylva and other defendants could not prove an election for governor actually took place because they had failed to produce an authentic results sheet.

“The failure of the respondents to produce this form and prove beyond reasonable doubt that election (was) held is indeed fatal to their matter,” Ibiyeye said in his ruling.

Reuters