The Supreme court has sacked David Lyon less than 24 hours
before his inauguration as governor of Bayelsa state.
Lyon, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was
declared winner of the governorship election in the state in November 2019.
A panel of justices led by Mary Odili asked the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return
issued to Lyon and to re-issue another to the candidate with the second highest
number of votes.
The decision of the apex court was in affirmation of the
verdict of a federal high court disqualifying Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo,
Lyon’s running mate, for submitting forged credentials to INEC.
The supreme court held that the action of Degi-Eremienyo
affects Lyon because both men ran on a joint ticket.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Douye Diri, its
governorship candidate, had filed a suit against Lyon, Degi-Eremienyo and INEC,
seeking the disqualification of the APC deputy governorship candidate.
They alleged Degi-Eremienyo gave false information in his CF
0001 form submitted to INEC.
Inyang Ekwo, the trial court judge ruled in favour of the
PDP on November 12, 2019.
Ekwo held that there was no connection between the name on
the candidate’s school-leaving certificate, first degree (BA), master’s degree
and the affidavits he swore.
However, the court of appeal upturned the decision of the
trial court and affirmed the candidature of Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo.
Stephen Adah, the justice who chaired the three-man panel of
the appellate court, said the PDP did not prove their case against the APC
candidates.
The court held that Degi-Eremienyo submitted an affidavit
which showed evidence of his change of name from Adeyi-Eremienyo to
Degi-Eremienyo.
“I agree with the appellant that the owner of the school
leaving certificate and the GCE certificate are one and the same and I
therefore set aside the judgment of the court below,” Adah said.
Not satisfied with the decision of the court of appeal, Diri
and his party filed an appeal at the supreme court.
In its judgment, the apex court set aside the decision of
the appellate court and affirmed the verdict which nullified the candidature of
Degi-Eremienyo.
Ejembi Eko, who read the lead judgment, ordered INEC to
issue certificates of return to candidates of the party with the next highest
number of lawful votes and with the required constitutional geographical spread
in the election.
Consequently, Diri Duoye, candidate of the PDP, who secured
143,172 votes against Lyon’s 352,552, will now be inaugurated as governor of
Bayelsa.
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All these drama is justvto cover up for the supreme court bad leadership,just to cover up for their mistakes in imo state.absolute rubbish
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