The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election that returned Duoye Diri as governor of Bayelsa state.
The Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) had in its petition asked the tribunal to annul the election because it was excluded from the November 16, 2019, poll.
In a majority judgment delivered by Justice Yunusa Musa on Monday, the tribunal held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unlawfully excluded ANDP from the election.
It, therefore, ordered INEC to conduct a fresh governorship election in Bayelsa State within 90 days.
The tribunal further ordered that the petitioner should be included in the fresh election to be conducted.
Diri, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was sworn in as governor after the Supreme Court sacked David Lyon, candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as governor-elect 24 hours before his inauguration.
The apex court based its rulings on the premise that his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, presented forged certificates to INEC.