Election Nullification: Gov Diri Heads To Appeal Court, Instructs Lawyers To File Necessary Papers

Bayelsaa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has asked his legal team to file necessary court papers to appeal Monday’s ruling of the state election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja which nullified his election.

Governor Diri, who spoke shortly after the tribunal ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrongly excluded the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) governorship candidate from the November 16, 2019 election, said he has implicit confidence in the judiciary that he would triumph in the end.

Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying: “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 (PDP) and his supporters not to panic and to continue to remain calm and law-abiding.

BIGPEN had reported that Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday nullified the election that produced Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, sequel to a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, (ANDP) and its candidate, King George which argued that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election.

The Tribunal which upheld the prayers of the petitioners, in a majority judgment, ordered a bye election within 90 day and also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include ANDP and its candidate in the bye-election to be conducted.