The Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, says he will appeal Monday’s ruling of the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, which nul
The Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, says he will appeal Monday’s ruling of the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, which nullified his election.
King George, candidate of the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), had asked the tribunal to cancel the election because he was excluded from the November 16, 2019 governorship poll.
On Saturday, a three-man panel of the tribunal had dismissed three petitions challenging the election on the grounds of incompetence and lacking merit But while delivering judgment on another petition on Monday, the panel held that the election was unlawful due to the exclusion of ANDP and its candidate,.
Yunusa Musa, the judge who read the judgement, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in Bayelsa within 90 days.
The apex court based its rulings on the premise that Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, running mate of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), presented forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Diri said he has, consequently, instructed his lawyers to file the necessary papers. He spoke shortly after the tribunal ruled on his election nullification. Diri, in a statement by his acting Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said he has implicit confidence in the judiciary that he would triumph in the end.
He said, “We trust in the judiciary and we are appealing the judgement. With God on our side, we will get justice. This is a court of first instance and I have instructed our lawyers to file an appeal. We have a right of appeal even up to the Supreme Court.”
The governor urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party and his supporters not to panic and to continue to remain calm and law-abiding. Diri, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was sworn in as governor after the supreme court sacked David Lyon as governor-elect 24 hours before his inauguration.
