Against the wish of Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the Bayelsa State governorship election of 2019, Douye Diri has been sworn in as Governor.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Kate Abiri administered the oath of office to Diri, swearing him in as the 5th civilian Governor of Bayelsa on Friday after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented certificate of return to him in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment.
There would be no govt in Bayelsa from Friday night – Oshiomhole
National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole had faulted the Supreme Court judgment declaring the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Douye Diri as new Governor-elect in Bayelsa.
Oshiomhole said this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to the apex court judgment.
He said the court would have borrowed a similar case that nullified governorship election in Bauchi.
“In 1999, there was a similar case in Bauchi involving Gov. Adamu Muazu.
“The court found out that the running mate was not qualified for whatever reason to contest that election and accordingly the supreme court nullified the election of Gov Muazu.
“And the court as a consequence, directed Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election.
“I believe it is still the same supreme court and therefore we have asked our lawyers to exploit all lawful legal windows to ensure that Bayelsa people have a governor of their choice.
“Let me also say that it is not a state secret.
“If the supreme court has ruled that David Lyon cannot now be sworn in as the person who has the highest number of votes and the spread to be sworn in, it simply means from tomorrow there will be no government in Bayelsa state.
“From the facts available to us and in due consultation with our lawyers, it is clear that no candidate meets the requirements of the supreme court which means no one can be sworn in legally tomorrow, unless there is deliberate attempt to abuse the legal process,” he said.
Wike warns Oshiomhole against inflammatory remarks
In the heat of the Supreme Court judgement, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike called on the Federal Government to warn the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to stop making inflammatory remarks capable of destabilising the country.
Governor Wike also berated the APC National Chairman for saying that there will be no swearing-in of the PDP Candidate in Bayelsa State, saying he has no such powers.
He said: “The Federal Government should warn Oshiomhole to stop making remarks that will destabilise Nigeria.
“What he is doing in Edo State is not proper and he should not bring it to the rest of the Niger Delta.”
He said that Oshiomhole lacks the power to make pronouncements after the Supreme Court has ruled on the Bayelsa matter.
“Who is Oshiomhole to determine who has spread in a state? Supreme Court has made a ruling. It is unfortunate for Oshiomhole to come forward to say that nobody will be sworn in ” he said.
He said that Oshiomhole is making unguarded statements because he has lost the support of APC Governors, hence he wants to curry favour through careless talks.
He said: “It is most unfortunate what Oshiomhole is doing because he wants to retain his position as National Chairman. APC Governors have rejected him, that is why he is struggling to prove that he is fighting for the Party.
“He is making statements as if he owns the country. This is the same way he is carrying on in Edo State fighting the Governor.
“He believes that he has the forces to cause crisis. He is arrogating powers to himself, which is not good “, he said.
Governor Wike described Oshiomhole as a man who preaches one thing, then goes ahead to practise a different thing. He said the situation in Edo State has exposed Adams Oshiomhole as a godfather who once preached against godfathers.
He said Oshiomhole would not be allowed to destroy the Niger Delta. Governor Wike said the rule of law must continue to prevail at all times.
INEC bows to pressure, declares Sen. Diri winner of Bayelsa governorship election
In the face of pressure from different quarters INEC declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Douye Diri, as winner of the Bayelsa governorship election following Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the declaration at a news conference on Friday at the commission headquarters in Abuja.
Yakubu said that INEC had received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment of the apex court which disqualified the deputy governorship candidate of the APC and vitiated the joint ticket of the party earlier declared winner in the election.
The court also ordered the commission to “declare as winner of the governorship election in Bayelsa state the candidate with the highest number of lawful votes cast with the requisite constitutional (or geographical spread).
“In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, the commission met this morning and reviewed the result of the election in which 45 political parties contested.
“Without the votes scored by the APC, whose candidates were deemed not to have participated in the election, the total number of lawful and valid votes cast in the election now stands at 146,999.
“Out of this figure, the candidate of the PDP scored the highest number of lawful votes with 143,172.
“Similarly, the party has scored more than 25 per cent of the lawful votes cast in all the eight Local Government Areas of the State.
“Furthermore, the total number of registered voters in places where election was not held or cancelled as a result of sundry violations is 90,822. The candidate of the Accord party has the next highest score with 1,339 votes.
“The margin of lead between the candidates of the PDP and the Accord party is 141,833 votes. With this outcome, the election is conclusive at first ballot.
“Consequently, Sen. Diri and Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo of the PDP are hereby declared winners and returned elected as Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State respectively.’’
Yakubu said that detailed result would be uploaded on INEC’s website and social media platforms shortly.
He said that the commission was aware that the tenure of the incumbent governor of Bayelsa ended at midnight Friday Feb. 14.
“Therefore, in fulfillment of the requirement of Section 75 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) the Certificates of Return to the Governor and Deputy Govemor-elect will be presented to them immediately as ordered by the Supreme Court,’’ Yakubu said.
Bayelsa election: INEC presents certificate of return to Sen. Douye Diri of PDP
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had presented Certificate of Return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate, Douye Diri, as winner of the Bayelsa 2019 governorship election, in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment.
Diri was presented the certificate of return by National Commissioner in charge of South/South, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, on Friday at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Earlier, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had declared Diri winner of the state governorship election.
Yakubu said INEC had received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement of the apex court, which disqualified the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and vitiated the joint ticket of the party earlier declared winner in the election.
“The court also ordered the commission to “declare as winner of the governorship election in Bayelsa State the candidate with the highest number of lawful votes cast with the requisite constitutional (or geographical spread).”
“In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, the commission met this morning and reviewed the result of the election in which 45 political parties contested.
“Without the votes scored by the APC, whose candidates were deemed not to have participated in the election, the total number of lawful and valid votes cast in the election now stands at 146,999.
“Out of this figure, the candidate of the PDP scored the highest number of lawful votes with 143,172.
“Similarly, the party had scored more than 25 per cent of the lawful votes cast in all the eight Local Government Areas of the state.
“Furthermore, the total number of registered voters in places where election was not held or cancelled as a result of sundry violations is 90,822.
“The candidate of the Accord Party has the next highest score with 1,339 votes.
“The margin of lead between the candidates of the PDP and the Accord party is 141,833 votes. With this outcome, the election is conclusive at first ballot.
“Consequently, Sen. Diri and Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo of the PDP are hereby declared winners and returned elected as Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State respectively, ” he stated.
Yusuf said that detailed result would be uploaded on INEC’s website and social media platforms shortly.
He said that the commission was aware that the tenure of the incumbent Governor of Bayelsa ended at midnight Friday Feb. 14.
Receiving the certificate, Diri commended INEC and the judiciary for being the “last hope of the common man.”
“We pray and hope that God will heal our land, Bayelsa, and Nigeria. God has taken us through wide road and the road has taught us reconciliation, lessons” Diri said.
The Supreme Court on Thursday sacked David Lyon and Sen. Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, as governor and deputy governor-elect in the Nov. 16, 2019 Bayelsa governorship election.
Justice Ejembi Eko, who delivered the lead judgment, reinstated the Nov. 12, 2019, judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which disqualified Degi-Eremieoyo from participating in the governorship poll.
The court held that the trial court was right in finding the deputy guilty of presenting false information to INEC.
The Justice Mary Odili-led panel, held that no person shall be qualified to contest election if he presented false information for the purpose of election.
The apex court ordered that the certificate of return be withdrawn immediately from the governor and his deputy and be issued to the candidate with the second highest votes in the Nov. 16, 2019 election.
Diri was accompanied to INEC by some party leaders and his supporters.