Appeal Court Affirms Diri As Bayelsa Governor

A five-man panel of the Appealed Court on Friday unanimously ruled that the judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal was wrong.

The Bayelsa State governor, Duoye Diri / Photo credit: Vanguardng
The Bayelsa State governor, Duoye Diri / Photo credit: Vanguardng

The Court of Appeal hearing the Bayelsa governorship case has reversed the tribunal ruling, which ordered for new elections after sacking Governor Duoye Diri.

A five-man panel of the Appealed Court on Friday unanimously ruled that the judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal was wrong.

READ ALSO: Bayelsa Governor’s One Leg

The Tribunal had on August 17, ruled in favour of the petition filed by Lucky King-George, candidate of the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, who said he had been wrongly excluded from the November 16, 2020 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Subsequently, the tribunal ordered INEC to conduct a fresh poll in the state within 90 days.

READ ALSO: Tribunal Annuls Diri’s Election As Bayelsa Governor

In it’s own ruling the Appeal Court panel led by Adriza Mshella, held that the petition filed by the ANDP at the lower tribunal was statute-bound.

The court also questioned the power of the tribunal to claim jurisdiction over the case.

The Interview Editors

Written by The Interview Editors

The Interview is a niche publication, targeting leaders and aspiring leaders in business, politics, entertainment, sports, arts, the professions and others within society’s upper middle class and high-end segment in Nigeria.