Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State. |
By Wandoo Sombo
The Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in
Abuja has nullified the election of Bayelsa Gov. Duoye Diri and
ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct fresh
elections within 90 days.
The Advanced National Democratic Party (ANDP) had filed a
petition asking the Tribunal to cancel the election on the grounds that the
party was unlawfully excluded from the Nov.16, 2019 governorship election in
Bayelsa.
Delivering the lead judgment on Monday, Justice Yunusa Musa,
held that the ANDP was unlawfully excluded from the election.
Justice Sikiru Owodunni, another member of the three-man panel
of justices also agreed with ANDP.
However, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Mohammad
Ibrahim – Sirajo in a dissenting judgment held that the petition of ANDP lacked
merit and dismissed it.
Justice Sirajo in his minority judgment held that the tribunal
lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the petition.
He also maintained that since the ANDP was disqualified before
the election on account of fielding an under aged governorship candidate, the
case of the petitioner was a pre-election mater and should be handled by a
regular court.
Justice Sirajo further held that the ANDP’s candidate could not
have been properly nominated for the Nov.16, 2019 governorship election because
the electoral body had disqualified the candidate via a letter dated Sept.
21, 2019.
He noted that the party nominated an under aged deputy
governorship candidate, who admitted that he was 34-years-old, instead of the
35 years age stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.
Speaking to newsmen, Mr Chris Uche (SAN), counsel to Gov. Duoye
Diri said that his client had instructed him to petition the judgment
immediately.
In a related development, the Gribunal also dismissed a petition
filed by Accord Party challenging the election of the Deputy Governor of
Bayelsa, Mr Lawrence Ewhrujakpo on the grounds of false certificate.
Counsel to the deputy governor, Mr Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume told
newsmen that he was thankful to the tribunal for clearing his client’s name.
The tribunal had on Aug. 15 entertained three petitions against
the Bayelsa governor and dismissed all.
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