Startrend International Magazine For Your Latest News And Entertainment Gists
ABUJA – The Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal on Monday, August 17, 2020 nullified the election of Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State.
Justice Ibrahim Sirajo-led panel nolified the outcome of the gubernatorial election that held in the state on November 16, 2019, over the exclusion of one of the registered political parties, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, ANDP, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
ANDP argued that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election, despite the fact that it fulfilled all the statutory requirements.
In the ruling, the tribunal said it found merit in the petition and consequently nullified the election and ordered INEC to conduct a bye-election in the state within 90 days.
Monday’s ruling comes two days after the tribunal dismissed three other petitions against the election of Mr. Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party, as lacking in merit, three other petitions that sought to sack governor Diri on the premise that his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, submitted forged NYSC certificate to INEC for the purpose of the election.
The dismissed petitions were brought before the tribunal by Alliance for Democracy, AD, and its candidate, Owei Woniwei, United Peoples Congress, UPC, and its candidate, Ibiene Stephen, as well as that of candidate of the Liberation Movement, LM, Vijah Opuama.
The three-member tribunal dismissed the three petitions filed by separte parties on Saturday, August 15, 2020.
Recall, though Diri of the PDP came second in the governorship election, he was later declared the winner after the Supreme Court, in judgement on February 13, 2020, disqualified the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), David Lyon, following discrepancies in documents his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, attached to the Form CF001 he submitted to INEC.
The tribunal ruling can, however, still be challenged at the Appeal Court.
