Tribunal affirms Diri’s election as Bayelsa Governor

The Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Saturday has affirmed the election of Senator Douye Diri of the PDP as the Bayelsa State Governor after it dismissed the petition filed by the Alliance for Democracy and its candidate.

The three-man panel came to a conclusion a month after the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by a PDP former governorship aspirant in the state, Timi Alaibe as he challenged Diri’s candidacy in the November 2019 election.

Furthermore, the tribunal held that the petition by the Alliance for Democracy, AD, and Owei Woniwei is incompetent and lacked merit.

Justice S.M. Owoduni, in a unanimous judgement also held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations of the forged declaration of age and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharged certificate that was levelled against Diri’s deputy, Senator Lawrence.

Diri became Governor though he came second in the last year’s governorship election in the state as the Supreme Court disqualified the candidate of the APC, David Lyon who initially emerged the winner of the poll.

Justice Yunusa Musa currently delivers the second judgment between Ibiene Stephen versus INEC, Governor Duoye Diri, his deputy and PDP.

However, the tribunal dismissed the United Peoples Congress’ petition challenging Diri’s election.