The
Supreme Court, on Thursday, sacked the governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David
Lyon and his Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo.
The apex
court, in a unanimous decision by a five-man panel of Justices led by Justice
Mary Odili, held that Degi-Eremieoyo presented a forged certificate to the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
It held
that the Form CF 001 Degi-Eremieoyo submitted to INEC for the purpose of the
November 16, 2019, governorship election in the state, contained false
information of fundamental nature.
Justice
Ejembi Eko who delivered the lead judgement reinstated the November 12, 2019,
Judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja that disqualified Degi-Eremieoyo
from participating in the governorship poll.
The apex
court held that since Degi-Eremieoyo shared a joint ticket with the
governor-elect, his disqualification invalidated their nomination by the All
Progressive Congress, APC.
Consequently,
it ordered INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificate of Return that was
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
judgment followed an appeal that was filed by the People’s Democratic Party,
PDP, its governorship and deputy governorship candidates in Bayelsa State,
Douye Diri and Lawrence Ewhruojakpo.
Vanguard
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