Africa Press-Nigeria:
Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will on Friday at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, know their fate in the disputed November 16, 2019 governorship election.
Justice Adriza Mshella, who heads the five-man panel, will deliver judgment.
A senior lawyer in the matter, Machukwu Umeh (SAN) confirmed that the court had communicated the October 2 date to all parties.
The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on August 17 annulled Diri’s election and ordered a fresh one.
Diri, the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have pleaded that the poll and its outcome be affirmed.
In the lead appeal, Diri’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), argued that the case of the first respondent was statute barred as at the time it was filed.
He said the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) suit was a breach of the constitution because it was based on an attempt to field two underaged candidates contrary to constitutional provisions.
Uche contended that when INEC disqualified ANDP from participating in the election, the party did not challenge the disqualification until February 2020, which he noted was more than the 14 days allowed by law.
The SAN urged the appellate court to set aside the majority decision of the tribunal which invalidated Diri’s election and uphold the minority judgment which he stressed was based on sound reasoning and law.
