Following the ruling of the tribunal to annul the 2019 Gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, on Monday, Senator Duoye Diri, the sitting governor has decided to appeal the ruling.
This was contained in a press release by the governor through his chief press secretary, Daniel Alabrah.
Below is the statement:
BAYELSA STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
PRESS RELEASE
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said he will appeal Monday’s ruling of the state election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja and has consequently instructed his lawyers to file the necessary papers.
Governor Diri, who spoke shortly after the tribunal ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrongly excluded the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) governorship candidate in the November 16, 2009 election, said he has implicit confidence in the judiciary that he would triumph in the end.
His words: “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 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 urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his supporters not to panic and to continue to remain calm and law-abiding.
DANIEL ALABRAH
ACTING CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE BAYELSA GOVERNOR
AUGUST 17, 2020.