Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal, on Monday, nullified the election of Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State.
The nullification of Diri’s election was based on a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, which argued that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election.
The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.
However, Diri can still challenge the ruling of the Tribunal at the Appeal Court.
The nullification of the Bayelsa governor’s election comes two days after the tribunal dismissed three other petitions against the election of Governor Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The three-member tribunal had on Saturday dismissed three petitions filed by separate parties.
The petitions dismissed by the tribunal last Saturday were filed by the Alliance for Democracy, the United People’s Congress and the Liberation Movement.
Supreme Court had on February 13, sacked David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress as the governor-elect, barely 24 hours to his inauguration.
The apex court based its rulings on the premise that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission in aid of his qualification for the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The apex court then ordered INEC to declare the party with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread the winner of the election. Mr Diri was later sworn in as governor.
In a unanimous decision on Saturday, a three-member panel of the tribunal dismissed three petitions challenging Diri’s victory.
The judge, S.M. Owoduni, who read the lead judgment of the tribunal held that the petition filed by AD and its candidate, Owei Woniwei, was incompetent and lacked merit.
Justice Owoduni held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegation that Diri’s deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, forged his declaration of age and National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate.
The second petition filed by Ibiene Stephen and his party, UPC and the one filed by the candidate of the Liberation Movement, Vijah Opuama, were also dismissed.
puama had filed his petition to challenge the declaration of Messrs Diri and Ewhrudjakpo as governor and deputy.
He also alleged that Mr Ewhrudjakpo submitted forged exemption certificate and documents that contain false information to INEC. He is asking the tribunal to cancel the election and order a fresh poll.