Bayelsa: Tribunal dismisses petitions against Gov, Deputy

The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed two petitions challenging the victory of Governor Duoye Diri and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in the last election in the state.

The petition were filed by the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the United Peoples Congress (UPC).

The tribunal’s three-man panel held that the petitioners’ failed to prove their cases.

Justice S.M. Owoduni, in the lead judgment in the petition by the AD and its candidate, Owei Woniwei, held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegation that Ewhrudjakpo forged his declaration of age and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharged certificate.

The tribunal is currently on its judgment in the third petition filed by Vijah Opuama of the Liberation Movement (LM) party.

Opuama is, in his petition filed on February 21, 2020, challenging the election of Diri and Ewhrudjakpo on the grounds that the deputy governor was not qualified to contest the election.