JUST IN: Appeal Court Affirms Diri’s Election As Bayelsa Gov

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, affirmed that Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State was duly elected.

The court made the decision after considering Diri’s appeal and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Recall that the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had on August 17, removed Diri from office on the grounds that the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party and its candidate, King George, were unlawfully excluded for the governorship election.

It also ordered a fresh poll in the state within 90 days.

The governor had immediately appealed the decision.

A five-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Adezila Mshelia, on Friday, quashed the lower court’s decision, stressing that the ANDP was not unlawfully excluded.

It also agreed with INEC’s argument that it had constitutional powers to disqualify a candidate who did not meet the requirements of the electoral law.