The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Senator Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State and ordered the conduct of a fresh election within the next 90 days.

The governorship election was nullified sequel to a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, which argued that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election. Its party name, logo and candidate were excluded from the ballot.

In a majority judgment delivered by Justice Yunusa Musa in the petition, the tribunal held that the Independent National Electoral Commission unlawfully excluded ANDP from the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state and consequently ordered the INEC to conduct fresh election within 90 days.

Senator Douye Diri, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, was sworn in as governor after the Supreme Court sacked David Lyon as governor-elect 24 hours before his inauguration.

The ruling comes 48 hours after the tribunal dismissed three other petitions filed by the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the United People’s Congress (UPC) and the Liberation Movement (LM).

However, the governor has indicated his decision to appeal the Tribunal judgement. In a press release by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor said he has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal.

“I’ve instructed My Lawyers To Appeal Tribunal Ruling” the governor said in a statement issued immediately. The statement reads:

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said he will appeal Monday’s ruling of the state election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja and has consequently instructed his lawyers to file the necessary papers.

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 has implicit confidence in the judiciary that he would triumph in the end.

His words: “We trust in the judiciary and we are appealing the judgement. 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 of appeal even up to the Supreme Court.”

The governor urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his supporters not to panic and to continue to remain calm and law-abiding.