Bayelsa Election: Tribunal nullifies election of Duoye Diri, orders fresh poll
The Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal on Monday nullified the election and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to order a fresh election within 90 days.
The verdict follows the petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) challenging the victory of Governor Diri in the November 19 governorship election. The party claimed that they were unlawfully excluded from the election.
In a split judgement of two-one, the three-man panel ruled that INEC does not have the power to disqualify any candidate for an election. INEC, in its argument, said that the party’s Deputy Governorship candidate was 34-year-old as at the time of nomination and therefore did not qualify to contest the election.
ANDP told Justice Yunusa Musa, who delivered 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.
Justice Musa in his response said that INEC has no power to disqualify any candidate and insists that the petition of the ANDP stands. He also added that only a court has the power to disqualify any candidate for any election and that the petition was filed within 21 days, which is the stipulated time for petitions to be filed.
Justice Musa described the action of INEC to exclude the ANDP from the Bayelsa Governorship Election as illegal. The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Muhammad Sirajo, however, dismissed the petition on technical grounds.
Mhhhh!!! This Bayelsa is becoming another thing…o
I hope the ruling party at the center is not the ones planning all these things
When will they settle all these their cases so that the actual winner will sit Cooly on that seat and face the activities of governance which is the main thing the people need
We are watching
Why is inec making that costly mistakes by omitting a party with an aspirant, it means that those in charged were not competent enough to be in the affairs of umpire of that state. Good luck to them.
This is another wasting of resources and materials because those monies that they have spent on it is wasted. The problem we are facing in this country is incompetence. How would they forget the party you supervise their primary. This is bad.
God please Bayelsa State this time around o because its not going to be easy if there will be another elections there
hmmmmm
They just want to start a fight in bayelsa
y is this judgment coming up now is it not too late
This Is Another Wasting Of Resources And Materials Because Those Monies That They Have Spent On It Is Wasted. The Problem We Are Facing In This Country Is Incompetence. How Would They Forget The Party You Supervise Their Primary. This Is Bad
So they run another election again.
They just want risk the life of people.
Is this a kind of state of emmergency？
OK