JUSTICE Ibrahim Sirajo-led Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has nullified the election of Governor Duoye Diri.
The panel on Monday, faulted the exclusion of one of the registered political parties, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), in the November 16, 2019 election.
ANDP had in a petition it lodged before the tribunal, contended that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite the fact that it fulfilled all the statutory requirements.
The tribunal which is sitting in Abuja said it found merit in the petition and consequently nullified the election and ordered INEC to conduct a bye-election in the state within 90 days.
The judgement came barely two days after the tribunal dismissed as lacking in merit, three other petitions that sought to sack governor Diri on the premise that his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, submitted forged NYSC certificate to INEC for the purpose of the election.
Alliance for Democracy (AD), and its candidate, Owei Woniwei of the United Peoples Congress (UPC), and its candidate, Ibiene Stephen, as well as that of candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM), Vijah Opuama, brought the dismissed petitions.
