The Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal has nullified the election of Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State.
The
election was nullified based on a petition by the Advanced Nigeria
Democratic Party, which argued that it was unlawfully excluded from
participating in the election.
The tribunal ruling can, however, still be challenged at the appeal court.
More details later on the tribunal’s Monday ruling will be provided in subsequent updates.
Monday’s
ruling comes two days after the tribunal dismissed three other
petitions against the election of Mr Diri of the Peoples Democratic
Party.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the three-member tribunal dismissed the three petitions filed by separte parties on Saturday.
Read our story on the Saturday rulings below.
The
Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja,
on Saturday, dismissed three petitions against Duoye Diri of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and affirmed him the duly elected
governor of the state.
The petitions dismissed by the tribunal
were filed by the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the United People’s
Congress (UPC) and the Liberation Movement (LM).
PREMIUM TIMES
reported how the Supreme Court, on February 13, sacked David Lyon of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor-elect barely 24 hours
to his inauguration.
The apex court based its rulings on the
premise that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false
information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in
aid of his qualification for the November 16 governorship election in
the state.
The apex court then ordered INEC to declare the party
with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread the
winner of the election. Mr Diri was later sworn in as governor
Tribunal Ruling
In
a unanimous decision on Saturday, a three-member panel of the tribunal
dismissed three petitions challenging Mr Diri’s victory.
The
judge, S.M. Owoduni, who read the lead judgment of the tribunal held
that the petition filed by AD and its candidate, Owei Woniwei, is
incompetent and lacks merit.
Justice Owoduni held that the
petitioners failed to prove the allegation that Mr Diri’s deputy,
Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, forged his declaration of age and National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) discharged certificate.
The second petition
filed by Ibiene Stephen and his party, UPC and the one filed by the
candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM), Vijah Opuama, were also
dismissed.
Mr Opuama had filed his petition to challenge the declaration Messrs Diri and Ewhrudjakpo as governor and deputy.
He
also alleged that Mr Ewhrudjakpo submitted forged exemption certificate
and documents that contain false information to INEC. He is asking the
tribunal to cancel the election and order a fresh poll.
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