No Vacancy in Bayelsa Govt House; Diri remains gov until S’Court decides – Dickson I’ve instructed my lawyers to appeal tribunal ruling … Diri

The immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Seriake Dickson, has urged the people of Bayelsa not to shiver at the judgment of the tribunal which annulled the state governorship election on Monday.

Famous Reporters recalls that
Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja, had yesterday, Monday, nullified the election that produced candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,  Senator Duoye Diri, as Governor

However, former Governor, in a statement released by his media advisor, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, on Monday, maintained that the PDP and the government would appeal the judgment.

Chief Dickson described the judgment as a temporary setback which he noted did not in law affect the status quo until appeal processes were exhausted.

Dickson who reiterated that there was no vacancy at Bayelsa state Government House, enjoined Bayelsans not to be distracted by the judgement, rather continue their lawful duties without being perturbed following the judgment on the suit, as filed by the Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party against its purported exclusion in the election by the INEC.

He insisted that Diri remained governor up until a final decision on the issue was reached at the Supreme Court.

Hear him: “I urge Bayelsans to remain calm. They shouldn’t misinterpret what took place at the tribunal today.

“The judgment is a temporary setback which does not have any effect on the status quo until all processes of appeal are exhausted.

“There is no vacancy in the Bayelsa Government House. Douye Diri remains governor until the Supreme Court decides. Of course what this means is that the PDP will appeal this decision.”

In a related development, the embattled Governor, Senator Douye Diri said he would appeal Monday’s ruling of the state election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, and has consequently instructed his lawyers to file the necessary papers.

Diri while speaking shortly after the tribunal ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrongly excluded the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) governorship candidate from the November 16, 2019 election, expressed an aura of confidence in the judiciary, hence his optimism in emerging triumphant in the end.

In his words: “We trust in the judiciary and we are appealing the judgment. 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.”

He, therefore, urged advised members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and his supporters not to panic and to continue to remain calm and law-abiding, as he assured them of a resounding victory.