Bayelsa Gov Vows to Appeal Tribunal Verdict

Matilda Omonaiye/

Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, has disclosed that he would challenge the ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal that annulled his electoral victory at the Court of Appeal.

Reacting to the tribunal judgement, which was delivered earlier today, stated that he has instructed his lawyers to appeal the judgement.

The tribunal had ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrongly excluded the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) governorship candidate in the November 16, 2019 election in the state.

In a statement by Daniel Alabrah, his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Diri said he has implicit confidence in the judiciary 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,” he said.

“This is a court of first instance and I have instructed our lawyers to file an appeal. We have a right of appeal even up to the Supreme Court.”

The governor also urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his supporters not to panic but to continue to remain calm and law-abiding.