The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams
Oshiomhole has reacted to the Supreme Court which sacked his party’s
candidate David Lyon as the winner of Bayelsa governorship election.
In a statement made available to newsmen, the APC Chairman pointed
out that the People’s Democratic Party candidate, Senator Duoye Diri who
the Supreme Court directed the Independent and National Eelctoral
Commission (INEC) to give a new certificate of return to, does not have
one quarter of the total lawful votes which was cast in two third of the
eight local government areas of Bayelsa state.
According to Oshiomhole, no one can be sworn in as Governor of
Bayelsa State legally tomorrow February 12, because the annulment of
David Lyon’s victory means there is no candidate that meets the
requirements of the law and that will amount to deliberate abuse of
legal process.
He said;
“From the online reports we have read, the Supreme Court ruled that
the certificate of return earlier issued to David Lyon be withdrawn and
directed INEC to issue a certificate of return to the person who scored
the highest votes after Lyon if such a person has the required spread.“As a political party, we respect the rule and we respect and have
confidence in the judiciary. However, this judgement lacks the fruits of
justice. For me and our party, at the heart of election is the issue of
who did the people actually voted for?“Is there a case of impersonation on the part of the deputy governor
elect? Is there any other person who has come out to claim that name as
to raise doubt as to whether this is the deputy governor elect dually
elected along with the governor during the Bayelsa governorship
election.“Where justice and democracy thrive on the alter of technicalities,
it constitute danger to our democracy. Nobody has raised issues whether
David Lyon and his running mates won over whelming majority.“Issues of whether a chieftaincy title is part of a name or not could
not be a reason to dismiss the wishes of the great people of Bayelsa
state who reposed absolute confidence in the election of David Lyon and
his running mate during the last governorship election.“It is not a state secret. If as the Supreme Court has ruled, David
Lyon cannot be sworn in as governor and that the person who has the
highest number of vote and spread be sworn in, it simply means that from
tomorrow, there will be no government in Bayelsa state.“As far as we know, the next candidate who happen to be a PDP
candidate does not have one quarter of the total lawful votes cast in
that election in two third of the eight local government areas in
Bayelsa state.“Therefore, from the facts available to us and in consultations with
our lawyer, it is clear that there no candidate that meets the
requirements of the law which means that no one can be sworn in tomorrow
legally unless there is deliberate abuse of the legal process.“We have accordingly asked our lawyers to look at all the windows
that exist in law and take steps to ensure that the will of the people
of Bayelsa state is not undermined on the whims of technicalities.”
The former Edo State Governor recalled how the Supreme Court ordered a
fresh election after nullifying the election of former Governor of
Bauchi state, Adamu Muazu in 1999.
He added;
“When judges make judgements, they are published and there are those
ones that laymen can understand. In 1999, there was a similar case in
Bauchi involving Governor Adamu Muazu.“The court found that his running mate was not qualified to contest
the election and the Supreme Court nullified the election of Adamu Muazu
and directed INEC to conduct a fresh election.“I believe it is the same Supreme Court and therefore, we have asked
our lawyers to explore all legal windows to ensure that Bayelsa people
are not denied their wishes.“Let me say that bad as the case of Zamfara was where after we have
won the elections, the court held that APC did not conduct primaries and
therefore did not participate in that election. This one is totally
different because proper election was conducted.“This is not another Zamfara case. The essential ingredients are
different and so, the outcome and consequences cannot be the same. We
want to assure our members across and Nigerians that we are a law
abiding party, we still believe that the will of Bayelsa people will
prevail.”