The immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has stated that there is no vacancy in the Government House despite the judgment of the election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, which canceled out the November 16, 2019 state governorship election.

Dickson in a statement today by his media advisor, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that Mr. Douye Diri remained governor until a final decision on the issue was concluded at the Supreme Court.  In reaction to the ruling, he described it as:

 “A temporary setback which does not in law affect the status quo until appeal processes are exhausted.”

The former governor who urged the people of Bayelsa not to be troubled by the tribunal’s verdict, maintaining that the Peoples Democratic Party and the government would appeal the judgment, also advised people to go about their lawful duties without any disturbance because of the judgment, following a suit filed by the Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party against its purported exclusion in the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission. In his words:

 “I urge Bayelsans to remain calm. They shouldn’t misinterpret what took place at the tribunal today (Monday).

“The judgment is a temporary setback which does not have any effect on the status quo until all processes of appeal are exhausted.

“There is no vacancy in the Bayelsa Government House. Diri remains governor until the Supreme Court decides. Of course, what this means is that the PDP will appeal this decision.”