The Bayelsa state governorship election tribunal sitting in
Abuja has annulled the election of Duoye Diri, governor of Bayelsa state.
Lucky King-George, candidate of the Advanced Nigeria
Democratic Party (ANDP), had asked the tribunal to cancel the election because
he was excluded from the November 16, 2019 governorship poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had
explained that it excluded ANDP from the elections because David Esinkuma
(34-years old), the party’s initial deputy governorship candidate, did not meet
the age requirement of 35 years to contest in elections.
But ANDP had submitted that Esinkuma was duly substituted
within the allowed time frame, following his disqualification by INEC.
The party, therefore, prayed the tribunal to order for a
fresh conduct of the poll.
On Saturday, a three-man panel of the tribunal had dismissed
three petitions challenging the election on the grounds of incompetence and
lacking merit.
But while delivering judgment on another petition on Monday,
the panel held that the election was unlawful due to the exclusion of ANDP and
its candidate.
Yunusa Musa, the judge who read the judgement, ordered the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in
Bayelsa within 90 days.
Diri, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was
sworn in as governor after the supreme court sacked David Lyon as
governor-elect 24 hours before his inauguration.
The apex court based its rulings on the premise that
Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, running mate of the candidate of the All
Progressive Congress (APC), presented forged certificates to the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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