Bayelsa: Diri’s appeal receives increased boost as opposition party plunges into crisis

Duoye Diri’s bid to challenge the nullification of his right to office has received an increased boost following the decision by a faction of the Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party (ANDP), to distance itself from Lucky George, the party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 Bayelsa election.

James Femowei, the chairman of the faction justified the decision by alleging that the party never had a gubernatorial candidate to begin with. He said there was no primary election that produced any flag bearer in the first place.

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Femowei denied knowledge that the ANDP filed an application against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Douye Diri at the state’s tribunal, According to reports by The Guardian. 

“There is an urgent need to address the press and put records straight in respect of the participation of the ANDP in the Bayelsa gubernatorial election held on November 16, 20l9 and the position of the party on the outcome of the election petition tribunal delivered on August 17, 2020.

“ANDP Bayelsa State did not present any candidate for the purpose of contesting the November 16, 2019 governorship election as it had earlier adopted Senator Douye Diri of the PDP” he said.

Recall that Diri had on August 18 filed a suit against his removal from office by the election tribunal. According to his counsel, Chris Uche, the governor said the tribunal erred in law when it held that ANDP’s petition was not statute-barred.

Prior to this development, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Bayelsa state deputy governor, had reacted to the petition filed by the Liberation Movement questioning his qualification in the 2019 gubernatorial election.

The deputy governor is enmeshed in a saga after LM candidate, Vijah Opuama, petitioned him to the Bayelsa electoral tribunal over alleged question marks in some of his credentials.