The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has written to the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) demanding a fresh Governorship election in Bayelsa State.
Mr. Yekini Nabena who is the Deputy National Chairman of the party disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja.
The Apex Court sacked David Lyon as winner of the 2019 election in the State and ordered the commission to declare the next party with the highest votes winner. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Douye Diri, was subsequently sworn in.
He said, “The Party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, while affirming the supremacy of the Apex Court, forwarded a letter to INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, titled: Judgment in Appeal No: SC.1/2020 between Peoples Democratic Party and APC, requesting for the conduct of fresh governorship election in Bayelsa State.
“When the Supreme Court decided against the PDP on the Imo governorship poll, the party in protest by its National Chairman, Uche Secondus, went around the European Union, UK and US embassies wailing that ‘Nigeria’s democracy was under threat, “What has suddenly changed in the case of the Bayelsa governorship election? he asked.
“This only goes to show that these foreign concerns and all Nigerians must be wary of such politics and insincere antics of the PDP. The contention on the Bayelsa governorship is far from over, we are all aware of the NYSC certificate forgery case of the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo,” the letter stated.
“And the decision of the APC National leadership to continue to pursue all legal avenues to contest INEC’s decision to declare Douye Diri as Bayelsa Governor, having failed to meet the mandatory constitutional requirement to become governor.”
Meanwhile, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has asked the Supreme Court to reinstate David Lyon, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as Governor-Elect of Bayelsa State.
MEND leader,Jomo Gbomo said in a statement released on Sunday that it was against natural justice for the Apex Court to impose Douye Diri on the people of the State.
“It was clearly contrary to natural justice, equity and good conscience for the Supreme Court to force Senator Douye Diri on the People of the State. This accounts for why Yenagoa, the State capital, was immediately engulfed in protests, following the judgment,” Gbomo said.
“We reasonably believe that the supreme court Judgment was procured by enemies of the people of Bayelsa State; enemies who are determined in their evil machinations to perpetually pauperize and castrate the people.
“Even as we hear that Lyon has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court for judicial review of the February 13 Judgment, we appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to dispassionately review the now controversial Judgment and thereby return the peoples’ choice as Governor of Bayelsa state,” he stated.
Mr. Jomo Gbomo said whoever emerges victorious after the reported application for the review of court’s verdict must work to unite the people, fight crime and alleviate poverty.
“On their own part, the long-suffering people of Bayelsa State must continue to remain law abiding and support whoever emerges as governor of the state. Ultimately, whether it’s Diri or Lyon: Bayelsa State comes first,” he concluded.
