The immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson, has urged Bayelsans not to be perturbed by the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal which annulled the state Governorship election in the state.
He described the judgment as a temporary setback which does not in law affect the status quo until appeal processes are exhausted.
The former Governor said in a statement by His Media Adviser, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, on Monday that the PDP and the Government would appeal the judgment.
He stressed that there was no vacancy in the Bayelsa Government House as Diri remains Governor until a final decision on the issue was reached at the Supreme Court.
Chief Dickson urged Bayelsans to go about their lawful duties without any disturbance because of the judgment on the suit filed by the Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party against its purported exclusion in the election by INEC.
He said, “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. Diri remains Governor until the Supreme Court decides.
“Of course what this means is that the PDP will appeal this decision”.
It would be recall that the sitting governor, Duoye Diri, was sacked by the Bayelsa governorship election petition tribunal on Monday following a suit filed by the Advance National Democratic Party (ANDP), and ordered the Independent National Electorial Commission (INEC), to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.
The nullification was sequel to a petition brought before it by the Advance National Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Mr. King George who alleged unlawfully exclusion from the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state.
The panel, in its judgement upheld that ANDP and its candidate were unlawfully excluded and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a bye governorship election in Bayelsa State within 90 days.
The tribunal ordered INEC to include the petitioner, King George of the ANDP in the fresh election to be conducted.
