Tribunal nullifies Bayelsa governorship election, orders fresh one

By our reporter| The Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal has nullified the election of Governor Douye Diri and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to order a fresh election within 90 days.

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.

The verdict follows the petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) challenging the victory of Governor Diri in the November 19 governorship election on the grounds that the party was unlawfully excluded from the election.

INEC, had in disqualifying ANDP, 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.

Justice Musa in the lead judgement, 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 and that the decision of INEC to exclude the ANDP from the Bayelsa Governorship Election is illegal.