Tribunal Court Sacks Bayelsa Governor, Orders INEC To Conduct Fresh Elections

Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State has been sacked by an Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday.

The three-man panel was led by Justice Mohammed Sirajo and ruled that the election was unlawful due to the exclusion of Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, ANDP, and its candidate, King George, from the November 16, 2019 governorship election.

INEC had explained that it excluded ANDP from the elections because David Esinkuma, the party’s initial deputy governorship candidate, did not meet the age requirement of 35 years to contest in elections as he was 34-years old.

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.

The tribunal ordered INEC to conduct a bye-election within 90 days.

NAN reports that on August 15, the tribunal upheld the election of Governor Diri and his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.