A Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday declared
that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has no governorship candidate
in the November 16 election in the State.
The governorship election in the State comes up on Saturday, November 12.
The court presided over by Justice Jane Inyang gave the ruling in a
case filed by Heineken Lokpobiri, one of the APC governorship aspirants.
A former Minister of State for Agriculture, Lokpobiri, had approached the court, seeking a declaration, that he, and not David Lyon is the authentic candidate of the APC.
The court on Thursday pronounced that “the governorship primary conducted by the APC in Bayelsa state was not done in compliance with the guidelines and the constitution of the party, and, therefore, the party has no candidate.”
This was disclosed to journalists by Lokpobiri’s lawyer, Fitzgerald Olorogun, immediately after the court ruling.
The lawyer, who expressed shock at the court ruling, said the court declaration was not part of their prayers, adding that “It’s strange.”
Asked what was the next option for his client, Olorogun said “We’ll do the needful. But for now, the pronouncement of the court is that APC has no candidate.”
There was heavy police presence within and outside the court
premises. The main highway way leading to the court was barricaded by
the police. Visitors, including journalists, were frisked before they
were allowed to enter the court building.
Mr Lokpobiri, before now, has been urging the people of Bayelsa to vote for the APC in the November 16 election, despite his court case against Mr Lyon and the party.
“I’m a very strong member of APC and I came today to formally tell our chairman and speak to Nigerians, in particular, the electorate in Bayelsa that all of them should vote for APC regardless of what happens in the court case in which judgment is slated for Nov. 14, 2019,” the former minister said in Abuja after a courtesy visit on the national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
“I told my supporters even before I came here that no matter what happened, I will remain in APC having served as a minister under this administration.
“There is no way the outcome of the governorship primaries will make me leave APC. We are working and campaigning at different levels.
“I always advise that anybody that is grieved, the only place to go is the court.
“So, whatever happens in the matter that is pending in court will not be an infraction on any part of our party’s constitution,” he said.
DAILY POST had earlier reported that a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday disqualified Lyon’s running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, from participating in the Saturday’s election on the grounds that he provided conflicting information on the documents he presented to INEC.
The case against Degi-Eremienyo was filed by the PDP.
The governorship election in the State comes up on Saturday, November 12.
A former Minister of State for Agriculture, Lokpobiri, had approached the court, seeking a declaration, that he, and not David Lyon is the authentic candidate of the APC.
The court on Thursday pronounced that “the governorship primary conducted by the APC in Bayelsa state was not done in compliance with the guidelines and the constitution of the party, and, therefore, the party has no candidate.”
The lawyer, who expressed shock at the court ruling, said the court declaration was not part of their prayers, adding that “It’s strange.”
Asked what was the next option for his client, Olorogun said “We’ll do the needful. But for now, the pronouncement of the court is that APC has no candidate.”
Mr Lokpobiri, before now, has been urging the people of Bayelsa to vote for the APC in the November 16 election, despite his court case against Mr Lyon and the party.
“I’m a very strong member of APC and I came today to formally tell our chairman and speak to Nigerians, in particular, the electorate in Bayelsa that all of them should vote for APC regardless of what happens in the court case in which judgment is slated for Nov. 14, 2019,” the former minister said in Abuja after a courtesy visit on the national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
“I told my supporters even before I came here that no matter what happened, I will remain in APC having served as a minister under this administration.
“There is no way the outcome of the governorship primaries will make me leave APC. We are working and campaigning at different levels.
“I always advise that anybody that is grieved, the only place to go is the court.
“So, whatever happens in the matter that is pending in court will not be an infraction on any part of our party’s constitution,” he said.
DAILY POST had earlier reported that a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday disqualified Lyon’s running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, from participating in the Saturday’s election on the grounds that he provided conflicting information on the documents he presented to INEC.
The case against Degi-Eremienyo was filed by the PDP.
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