JUST IN: Douye Diri appeals over Tribunal’s rule nullifying his election as governor

By Maria Ifafesobi

Akure

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has said he has instructed his lawyers to appeal the ruling of the state’s election petition tribunal sitting which annulled his election as the governor of Bayelsa State on Monday.

Governor Diri, who spoke shortly after the tribunal ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrongly excluded the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) governorship candidate from the November 16, 2019 election, said he had implicit confidence in the judiciary that he would triumph in the end.

In a statement issued by his acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, he said:

“We trust in the judiciary and we are appealing the judgment. 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 to appeal even up to the Supreme Court.”

The governor further urged members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and his supporters not to panic but to remain calm and continue to be law-abiding.

In the same vein, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Seriake Dickson, has urged the people of Bayelsa not to be disturbed by the judgment of the tribunal which annulled the state governorship election.

He described the judgment as a temporary setback that did not in the law affect the status quo until appeal processes were exhausted.

The former Governor said in a statement issued by his Media Advisor, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, that the PDP and the government would appeal the judgment, adding that there was no vacancy in the Bayelsa Government House as Diri remains governor until a final decision is issued at the Supreme Court.

Dickson also urged the people of Bayelsa to go about their lawful duties without worries.

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