Scores of Student groups, Market women and Non-Indigenes in Bayelsa State have rejected the majority ruling by the Governorship election petition tribunal nullifying the November 16th governorship election and ordering a fresh election within 90 days over a petition filed by the Advance Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP).
The protesting groups also declared their total support for the decision of Governor Douye Diri to seek redress at the Appeal Court over the Election Tribunal verdict, declaring that they have confidence in the higher court to quash the verdict of the tribunal..
The Student groups, made up of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Union Of Bayelsa State Students (NUBSS), led other groups of Market Women and Non-Indigenes Associations in the state, said the rejection of the verdict is based on the need for political stability and proactive development in the state.
According to the protesters, who carried placards with inscription such as “We say no to sponsored verdicts” Nembe people rejected disruption of governance in Bayelsa”,”On Douye Diri we stand in Ogbia and “Tribunal verdict is evil”, the verdict of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is a clear attempt to disrupt the ongoing good policies of the present administration on prompt payment of workers’ salary, pension payment and anticipated development.
Comrade Jacob Keneth (NANS, Bayelsa), “As students and intellectuals, we want to totally condemn and reject the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal because Governor Douye Diri is doing well and as student, we believe in his educational policy. And we believe that the present administration has come to salvage the plight of the Nigerian Students in Bayelsa State. We call on the judiciary that the Nigerian Students say no to the tribunal actions and we declare our support for the Governor.”
For the NUBBS President, Comrade Diepreye Solomon Gbigbo, the decision of the tribunal is a kill-joy for the student community and it must be rejected, “since Governor Douye Diri assume office, our parents have been smiling through the quick and prompt payment of salaries and other policies. We call on the petitioners to voluntarily withdraw their cases from the court to allow Governor to deliver the good deeds for the Nigerian students in Bayelsa”
On the part of the Non-Indigenes in Bayelsa State, led by the Director-General of the Unified Non-Indigene Association and Ohaneze Youth Wing Coordinator, (South-South} Chief Chinedu Arthur Uba called on the petitioners at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to shun divisive and ‘pull=-him-down’ action that is generating tension and fuelling insecurity in the state.”
“These people should allow Governor Douye Diri to be focused and continue what he has started in the state. We are groups of businessmen in the state and we need political stability and security for businesses to strive. We call on those against the Governor to sheath their swords and allow proper development in the state.”
