Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri says he will appeal the ruling of the state election petition tribunal which nullified his election as the governor.
In a statement on Monday by his acting chief press secretary Daniel Alabrah, Mr Diri said he had instructed his lawyers to file the necessary papers.
The tribunal nullified the election based on the wrongful exclusion of the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) governorship candidate in the November 16, 2019 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The governor said he has confidence in the judiciary and would triumph in the end.
“We trust in the judiciary and we are appealing the judgement. With God on our side, we will get justice.
“This is a court of first instance and I have instructed our lawyers to file an appeal. We have a right of appeal even up to the Supreme Court,” he said.
Diri urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his supporters not to panic, but remain calm and law-abiding.
Diri and his deputy Lawrence Ewhrujakpo were sworn into office on February 14 following a Supreme Court judgement which nullified the election of David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the grounds that his deputy presented forged certificates to INEC.
