Tribunal annuls Bayelsa governorship election
The Bayelsa state governorship election tribunal sitting in Abuja has annulled the election of Duoye Diri, governor of Bayelsa state.
Lucky King-George, candidate of the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), had asked the tribunal to cancel the election because he was excluded from the November 16, 2019 governorship poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had explained that it excluded ANDP from the elections because David Esinkuma (34-years old), the party’s initial deputy governorship candidate, did not meet the age requirement of 35 years to contest in elections.
But ANDP had submitted that Esinkuma was duly substituted within the allowed time frame, following his disqualification by INEC.
The party, therefore, prayed the tribunal to order for a fresh conduct of the poll.
On Saturday, a three-man panel of the tribunal had dismissed three petitions challenging the election on the grounds of incompetence and lacking merit.
But while delivering judgment on another petition on Monday, the panel held that the election was unlawful due to the exclusion of ANDP and its candidate.
Yunusa Musa, the judge who read the judgement, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in Bayelsa within 90 days.
Diri, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was sworn in as governor after the supreme court sacked David Lyon as governor-elect 24 hours before his inauguration.
The apex court based its rulings on the premise that Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, running mate of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), presented forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Very interesting, if true. This should teach INEC should stop arrogating undue powers to itself. In addition, appropriate punitive measures should be meted out to those at the helm of INEC responsible for waste of our precious national resources in conducting illegitimate elections leading to a repeat of the whole exercise. Also the general public will be encouraged to always respect the rule of law and do things the right way. Lastly, kudos to the ANDP for fighting this battle; it is all part of nation building and it contributes to making the Nigerian society better.
It will still go to Appeal,then Supreme court.Even at that,APC will still not be allowed to have candidate.
Why APC will not have candidate, as fresh poll is to be conducted?
Costly mistake by INEC considering loss of everything spent on the cancelled election and the cost of the new.In Nigeria,we waste our resources too much
APC at this time must be able to substitute another candidate for the deputy gov. since a fresh election has been ordered. This is because the reason why the APC gov. elect was not the reason leading to the disqualification.It will only be fair to allow APC To take part in the rescheduled election.
@larry what is your explanation to that
If Buhari and the likes leaders in the 70s and 80s can rule the whole country in their 20s and 30s years, then what kind of law will say 34yrs is not eligible. When I know of a man that became a professor in this country at the age of 32yrs and also rose to be a VC before he became 40yrs