Tribunal sacks Governor Diri, orders fresh election in 90 days

The Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has nullified the election of Governor Duoye Diri.

Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal passed the judgment on Monday.

The election was nullified based on a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), which argued that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election.

The three-man panel held that the election was unlawful due to the exclusion of ANDP and its candidate, King George from the governorship election that held in November.

The tribunal, however, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election within 90 days.

According to the tribunal, the INEC has no power to disqualify any candidate for any election.

TNG reports the INEC had in its argument said ANDP’s deputy governorship candidate, David Esinkuma was 34 years old at the time of nomination and therefore did not qualify for the election.

However, the ANDP told the tribunal that David Esinkuma was duly substituted by the party within the allowed time frame, following the notification from INEC that he is under-age.

The tribunal ruled that only a court has the power to disqualify any candidate for any election and that the petition was filed within the 21 days which is the stipulated time for petitions to be filed.

Justice Musa described the action of INEC to exclude the ANDP from the Bayelsa Governorship Election as illegal.

However, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Muhammad Sirajo dismissed the petition in its entirety on technical grounds.

The Nigerian Content Tower In Bayelsa Is Being Virtually Commissioned By President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerian Content Tower 

Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant on New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria reveals the Nigerian Content Tower in Balyesa is being commissioned today.

Which is being posted on his twitter page.

According to his post:

The Nigerian Content Tower which will be virtually commissioned later today by President Muhammadu Buhari

It has come with its own 10MW gas-fired power plant.

Construction of the Tower began in 2015 and was constructed by Megastar Technical & Construction, an indigenous engineering company.

The Nigerian Content Tower in Bayelsa is being virtually commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari from the State House, Abuja. Live stream here http://youtu.be/J5Xo8k9UyUo

Keep following Whistle Times for more interesting news information.

Gunmen attack church, kill 4 in Bayelsa

Unidentified gunmen have invaded a Pentecostal church in Azikoro village, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and killed four worshippers.

The hoodlums, who stormed the Church at about 11 pm on Wednesday, also set a nearby house ablaze.

The spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident, saying the command’s operatives have already launched a manhunt for the killers.

He said: “The Bayelsa State Police Command have launched a manhunt for the suspected cultists who murdered four victims and set a house ablaze.

“On 5th August 2020, at about 2300hours, armed suspected cultists stormed the ‘Lion of Judah Church’ Azikoro village, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, shot dead four church members namely; Alfred Marcus 30 years, Imomotimi surname unknown 25 years, Gabriel Ejimofor 45 years and Uchechukwu Ejimofor 38 years and set ablaze a nearby building, damaged a vehicle and the church property.

“Operatives of operation Puff Adder had earlier traced the hideouts of the cultists in the bush, dislodged them, and burnt their camp.

“It is believed that this is a reprisal attack by the suspected cultists.

“Meanwhile, two suspects have been arrested and are cooperating with the Police in their investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mike Okoli fsi, has visited the scene, reassured members of the community of adequate police protection and ordered for full Investigation to unravel the motive for this dastardly attack,” he said.