Witness narrates how Ex-HoS, allies diverted public funds to private companies in court
Tribunal Nullifies Bayelsa Governorship Election
By Emmanuel Awosika
The Bayelsa Election Tribunal convening in Abuja on Monday nullified the election that produced Duoye Diri as Governor of Bayelsa State.
The thee-man panel, led by Justice Mohammed Sirajo, declared the election illegal, as King George, candidate of the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, was prevented from participating.
The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh governorship election in the next 90 days.
The new ruling is the newest twist in the events surrounding the Bayelsa Governorship elections.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court disqualified All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, David Lyon, who won the poll at first. As Duoye Diri polled the second highest number of votes, he was declared winner of the election.
Following the declaration of Diri as Bayelsa Governor, opposition parties had filed petitions challenging the victory.
These petitions were all dismissed by the election tribunal. This includes the petition brought before the panel by the Alliance for Democracy and its candidate, , Owei Woniwei.
In it, the party had accused Diri’s running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo of tendering false documents to INEC as well as faking his age while registering for the election.
The tribunal had summarily dismissed the petition, calling it an “unnecessary waste of time of the court”.
In its judgment, the tribunal headed by Justice Owodunni, said the petitioners failed to prove that Senator Ewhrudjakpo had presented fake documents to INEC or falsified his age.
Meanwhile, Duoye Diri, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate earlier adjudged to have won the Bayelsa Governorship elections has promised to appeal the tribunal’s judgment.
“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,” he said.
He asked members of the Peoples Democratic Party and his supporters not to entertain any fears as he had confidence that he would triumph in the end.
