Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday nullified the election of Governor Duoye Diri.

The Mohammed Sirajo-led three-man panel, ruled that the election was unlawful due to the exclusion of Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party and its candidate, Mr King George, from the November 16, 2019 governorship election.

The tribunal ordered Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a bye-election within 90 days.

On August 15, the tribunal upheld the election of Governor Diri and his Deputy, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

The tribunal in a unanimous decision dismissed the first petition filed by the Alliance for Democracy and its candidate, Mr Owei Woniwei, for want of merit.

The tribunal held that the petitioners failed, by way of credible evidence, to prove that the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Ewhrudjakpo, tendered forged certificate to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

In the lead judgment read by Mr S.M. Owoduni, the tribunal further held that the petitioners failed to also establish the allegation that Ewhrudjakpo falsified his age.

Describing the case as “unnecessary waste of time of the court”, the tribunal, upheld preliminary objections that Diri, Ewhrudjakpo, and the Peoples Democratic Party lodged to challenge the competence of the petition.

Meanwhile Diri said he will appeal the court's ruling that nullified his election and has, consequently, instructed his lawyers to file the necessary papers.

He spoke shortly after the tribunal ruled that Independent National Electoral Commission wrongly excluded Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party governorship candidate in the November 16, 2009 election.

Diri, in a statement by his acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr 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 Supreme Court.”

The governor urged members of Peoples Democratic Party and his supporters not to panic and to continue to remain calm and law-abiding.

Punch