By Gbenga Abulude
Bayelsa State gubernatorial election tribunal sitting in Abuja deliver its judgment, tomorrow on Saturday, August 15, 2020.
Already there is anxiety among the people of Bayelsa as fear of an upturn grips the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The petitioner, Mr Opuama, of the Liberation Movement filed his petition on February 21, 2020 challenging the declaration of His Excellency, Mr Douye Diri and Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as governor and deputy governor respectively in Bayelsa State.
Opuama is seeking the disqualification of Ewhrudjakpo on the grounds of irregularities in his academic qualifications and the cancellation of the governorship election.
He also prayed the court to order a fresh election in Bayelsa, alleging that the poll conducted by the INEC failed to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
At the close of pleadings and adoption of addresses by all the parties concerned, the tribunal had adjourned for judgment on a date to be communicated to all the parties.
But since the judgment day was made public, anxiety seems to have pervaded the state, particularly the PDP family of what the likely outcome would be.
Reacting to the coming judgment, the state’s deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said there was nothing to be afraid of concerning the judgment.
The deputy governor, who spoke through his media aide, Doubara Atasi, said he believed that judiciary would do the right thing.
He said, ” believe that the judiciary will do the right thing and as far as the right thing is done, there is nothing to be afraid of.”
Mr Christopher Abarowei, a politician and indigene of the state, said the matter had an equal chance to the petitioner and the respondent.
He said his major concern was that litigants should allow governance progress in the state instead of unnecessary litigations that were stifling infrastructure development.
He said because of litigations, Governor Diri had not actually hit the ground running as he had been busy attending to one court case or another.
After six months of being sworn-in as Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri just appointed his commissioner nominees
