Bayelsa Saga: Confusion as INEC to meet over Certificate of Return

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC would meet on Friday, February 14, over Thursday’s Supreme Court sacked Bayelsa Governor-elect, David Lyon.

Recall that the Supreme Court, which ordered it to withdraw the Certificate of Return it issued to the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC in Bayelsa state, Chief David Lyon and issued another Certificate of Return to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Diri Duoye

A five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Mary Odili nullified the election of Mr Lyon on the grounds that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the November 16 governorship election in State.

The apex court had ordered the withdrawal and consequently directed the electoral umpire to issue the certificate to the candidate with the second highest votes polled in the November 16, 2019 Governorship election.

The court however gave a caveat that the candidate must have met the constitutional spread of votes in at least two-thirds of the local government areas in the state.

However, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi said the commission was not yet in receipt of the enrolled order of the court.

He said; “As at 8pm on Thursday when we left the office, we were yet to get an enrollment order.

“So, tomorrow (Friday), we will reconvene very early. And once we get the order, we will meet as a Commission and take a decision”.

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