Connect with us

News

S’Court sacks Bayelsa Gov-elect, asks INEC to install candidate of party with next highest votes

Published

on

David-Lyon

Mr. David Lyon, the Bayelsa State governor-elect and his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, were on Thursday sacked by the Supreme Court.

The court handed down the decision through a panel of Justices led by Justice Mary Odili, ruling that Degi-Eremioyo presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the unanimous decision by the five justices, the court held that the Form CF 001 Degi-Eremieoyo submitted to INEC contained false information of fundamental nature.

Read also: Nigerians will remain helpless unless security architecture is completely overhauled —CAN

While delivering the lead judgement, Justice Ejembi Eko, upheld the November 12, 2019, Judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja that disqualified Degi-Eremieoyo being a part of the November 16 governorship election.

The Supreme Court further held that since Lyon and his deputy held a joint ticket, Degi-Eremieoyo’s disqualification invalidated their nomination by the All Progressive Congress, (APC)

The court thereafter ordered INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to them and issue a fresh one to the party that secured the second highest number of votes and got the required constitutional spread

The Supreme Court judgment is the product of an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, its governorship and deputy governorship candidates in Bayelsa State, Douye Diri and Lawrence Ewhruojakpo respectively.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now