Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has instructed his lawyers to file an urgent appeal following the nullification of his election by the state election petition tribunal which sat in Abuja today.
The Balyesa State Governorship Election Tribunal nullified the election of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
In a majority judgment delivered by Justice Yunusa Musa in the petition filed by the Advance National Democratic Party, the tribunal held that the Independent National Electoral Commission unlawfully excluded the party from the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state.
It therefore ordered INEC to conduct a fresh governorship election in Bayelsa State within 90 days adding that the petitioner should be included in the fresh election to be conducted.
However, Diri who spoke shortly after the tribunal ruling, expressed the confidence that he would triumph in the end.
“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 the first instance and I have instructed our lawyers to file an appeal. We have a right to appeal even up to the Supreme Court, ” he asserted.