gavel
The Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal is set to
deliver judgment on the petitions of the Advanced Nigeria
Democratic Party (ANDP) and the Accord Party, challenging the
victory of Governor Douye Diri.
The ANDP is claiming that the party was unlawfully excluded from
the November 2019 governorship election.
But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its
argument said that the party’s Deputy Governorship candidate was 34
years old as at the time of nomination and therefore did not
qualify to contest the election.
In today’s sitting the ANDP told Justice Yunusa Musa who is
delivering the lead judgment that its initial Deputy Governorship
Candidate, David Esinkuma was duly substituted by the Party within
the allowed time frame, following the notification from INEC that
he’s under-age.
Diri,
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The tribunal had earlier dismissed three petitions against the
election of Governor Douye Diri.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Owodunni, the
tribunal held that the petition filed by Owei Woniwei of the
Alliance for Democracy is incompetent and lacks merit.
According to the Tribunal, the petitioner failed to prove the
allegations of the forged declaration of age and the National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) discharged certificate levelled against the
Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence.
The second judgment between Ibiene Stephen versus the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Duoye
Diri, his deputy, and PDP was also heard by Justice Yunusa
Musa.
The Tribunal dismissed United Peoples Congress’ petition
challenging Governor Diri’s election.