Bayelsa: 24 Hours To Swearing-in, Supreme Court Sacks APC Governor-elect David Lyon
…Orders INEC to issue Diri Duoye Certificate of Return
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – In what appears like a twist of fate, the Supreme Court on Thursday sacked the Governor-elect of Bayelsa State, Mr David Lyon.
The surprising ruling of the apex court came barely 24 hours to Mr. Lyons swearing as Governor of the oil rich State.
A five man panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Mary Peter-Odili nullified the election of Lyon on the grounds that his deputy, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo presented false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as part of his credential for his qualification for the November 16, 2019 Governorship Election in Bayelsa State.
In the ruling delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko, the Supreme Court accordingly ordered the INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return it earlier issued to Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo and should issue a new Certificate of Return to the next winner with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread.
Following the ruling of the Supreme Court, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Diri Duoye will now be sworn-in as governor of Bayelsa State.
Before the Supreme Court judgement, the former Governor-elect, Mr. Lyon was putting finishing touches to his inauguration scheduled for Friday, February 14, 2020 as he participated in the parade rehearsal being conducted by the officers and men of the Armed Forces, police, para-military organisations, schools and trade unions in the state.
