The Court of Appeal has ruled that Duoye Diri is the validly elected governor of Bayelsa State.
The appeal court delivered the judgement in Abuja on Friday, nullying a ruling of the Bayelsa State Governorship election petition tribunal that had set aside the election victory of Diri Duoye.
The court held that the petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, ANDP, was statute-barred, and therefore the tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Following a petition by ANDP, the Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal had in August nullified the election of Mr Diri.
The ANDP had gone to the tribunal, saying it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the governorship election.
