- As Judgement Comes Less Than 24Hrs To Inauguration
- Oshiomhole Condemns Ruling
There has been an outpouring of divergent reactions following a unanimous judgement in which panel of justices led by Justice Mary Odili on Thursday held that Deputy Governorship candidate in the Bayelsa 2019 governorship election, Degi-Eremieoyo presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to facts from the lead judgement as read by Justice Ejembi Eko, the court upheld the November 12, 2019, judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which disqualified Degi-Eremieoyo from participating in the governorship poll.
Degi-Eremieoyo disqualification invalidated their nomination by the APC, since he shared a joint ticket with the governor-elect, the Apex court ruled.
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The apex court then ordered INEC to issue fresh certificates to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, Duoye Diri being the party with the next highest votes next to the APC.
The election nullification by the Supreme Court came a day to the official inauguration of the sacked governor-elect scheduled for Friday.
Already pictures have surfaced online showing Lyon rehearsing for his inaugural parade.
Reacting to the ruling, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan has congratulated his party over the Supreme Court ruling.
Ologbondiyan in a tweet, wrote: “Congratulations to the PDP family.”
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole while speaking at a media briefing on the supreme court ruling in Abuja, said the party will challenge the judgment in court.
“No other candidate has the constitutional spread to be sworn in as governor; the judgement lacks fruit of justice.
“Our lawyers are already studying the judgment to take the necessary legal action,” Oshiomhole said.
I received the verdict of the Supreme Court, declaring the candidate of the @OfficialPDPNig in the Bayelsa state gubernatorial elections, Senator Douye Diri, as the duly elected Governor of the state, with gladness. pic.twitter.com/nxSBR3EfSI
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) February 13, 2020
One HOPES that these Supreme Court judgements will send a strong message to political parties, candidates and INEC to STRIVE to do things properly: Transparent/Credible Primaries (Zamfara); Inviolability of Electoral Due Process (Imo); Proper Screening/Due Diligence (Bayelsa).
— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) February 13, 2020
I am not happy at the development in Bayelsa, not one bit. Yes, the PDP is the biggest beneficiary of this judgement but I am pained that once more, the verdict of the people have been overturned by the courts, this time, rightly so. PDP was thrashed at the polls in Bayelsa.
— Mazi Gburugburu (@Mazigburugburu1) February 13, 2020
BAYELSA Gov.elect DAVID LYON publicly rehearsing his Swearing- n Salutation amidst Social Media Hype from supporters. Las Las, tax payers money involved. Will there be many rehearsals in Bayelsa in the next 4 years?
#Roonwey# WorldradioDay#Drogba pic.twitter.com/bz50HrsfVU
— ™ ^^^^•LEGENDARY FERGUSON™^^^ (@petersidebright) February 13, 2020
Again, I rightly called the APC Bayelsa debacle in the tweet below.
Oshiomhole is the architect of APC’s misfortune in Rivers, Zamfara & now Bayelsa.
A pre-election saga the APC foisted on itself.
This is different from the Imo Travesty. Supreme Court must do the needful. https://t.co/CixEKHpaDS
— Sir Ariyo-Dare Atoye (@AriyoAristotle) February 13, 2020
If I were Lyon of Bayelsa, I'll drive my deputy Governorship candidate to Maiduguri and abandon him at the city gates after 6pm.
— Malachy Odo II Esq. 🦁 (@MalachyOdo1) February 13, 2020
The problem with with PDP winning Bayelsa ( in the supreme court)is that the party won't learn a serious lesson.
Bayelsa's defeat was meant to make PDP sit up
The supreme court happened
PDP hasn't learnt shit, they needed to lose
Sha expect APC to win more states in the SS/SE
— William Ukpe (@William_Ukpe) February 13, 2020
Honestly I feel for the Governor-elect of Bayelsa State! If he was the one with fake certificate, I would have dragged him but to pay for the crime of his deputy is so sad.
The law must be obeyed but this is not fair! It should be that the deputy Gov elect that should be sacked!— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) February 13, 2020
Moral of the story is this. Beware of those you join yourself to because their mess could soon become your mess and bring both of you down. https://t.co/o4w72SJ3Cs
— Yinka Ogunnubi (@yinkanubi) February 13, 2020
