Bayelsa governor, PDP to appeal tribunal’s verdict

• INEC insists ANDP candidate not validly nominated

Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri  and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is to appeal the verdict of the Tribunal that removed him from office.

The State Governorship Election Tribunal in Abuja had removed Diri through a two-to-one split verdict.

The tribunal voided the election of the governor and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhruojakpo, following a petition filed by the Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party (ANDP) its National Chairman, Charles Ogboli, and its candidate in the November 16, 2019 election, King Lucky George, who complained about unlawful exclusion.

In the judgement, Justices Owodunni and Yunusa Musa (of the three-man panel) upheld the argument by petitioners’ lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, that the ANDP and its candidates were unlawfully excluded from the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Both Justices upheld the petition, nullified the election and ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.

However, n its defence yesterday, INEC said it exempted George because he was not validly nominated.