Bayesla: Appeal Court Rejects ANDP’s Prayer For Inclusion In Diri’s Appeal

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has given a new verdict on the  motion filed by members of the James Femowei-led factional National Executive Officers (EXCO) of the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP).

Naija News learnt that James Femowei-led factional National Executive Officers (EXCO) of the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), seeking to be included in the appeal by Bayelsa Governor, Duoye Diri against his sack by the election tribunal.

In a ruling on Monday, the court described the motion as frivolous and a ploy to waste its time and delay its hearing of pending appeals.

The Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had on August 17, this year, in a split decision of two-to-one, voided the outcome of the gubernatorial election that held in the state on November 16, 2019, over the exclusion of ANDP’s candidate, a decision Diri appealed in the appeal marked: CA/A/EPT/GOV/703/2020.

On September 10, 2020, the Femowei-led EXCO, through their lawyer, Dominic Anyiador, filed the motion, arguing among others that they were the authentic owners of the party and did not authorise the challenge of the outcome of the last governorship election.

The Court of Appeal heard the motion on Monday and in a ruling, rejected it on the grounds that those who filed it were without the requisite locus standi to approach the court in an election-related case.

In the court’s unanimous ruling of a three-man panel, upheld the preliminary objection raised against the motion by a lawyer to the ANDP, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) to the effect that the so-called members of the Femowei-led EXCO are not necessary parties in the case.