By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa- Reprieve came the way of the embattled Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Nestor Binabo, as the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Yenagoa, upheld his victory at the April 2011 state Assembly polls.

In its judgment, which lasted over two hours, the tribunal dismissed the petition by Labour Party candidate in the state House of Assembly poll, Mr. Barnabas Edure.

Binabo was elected to represent Sagbama II Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the April general elections.

Edure had prayed the tribunal to nullify the election on grounds of non-qualification, alleging that he (Speaker) falsified his records and presented forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

However, the tribunal, in its judgment, threw out the case on grounds that the petitioner did not prove his case beyond every reasonable doubt.

Edure had argued that Binabo failed to disclose that his appointment in the civil service of the old Rivers State was terminated in the intent form he filled and submitted to INEC prior to the elections.

No fewer than 30 armed security operatives, including men of the State Security Services, SSS, and officers from the bomb squad backed by Amoured Personnel Carrier, APC, were deployed around the tribunal venue to provide security.