The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will effect the Supreme Court ruling on Bayelsa governorship election once it is served with the certified true copy of the judgment.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Okoye said while INEC was bound to obey court orders or judgments including that of Supreme Court, the commission could not act base on reports from radio reports or newspapers.
“It is when we receive the certified true copy of the judgment that we have clear understanding of what the court tells us to do and we will give effect to the judgment of the supreme court.
”All we have heard and seen as of today are just newspapers reports. We are waiting for our lawyers who are part of the proceedings, and certified true copy of the judgment to enable us study and give effect to it.
“INEC has no power not to implement the judgment of Supreme Court. We are waiting for the certified copy of the judgment so that we can give effect to what the apex court want us to do.
“We don’t have any personal interest on the judgment of the supreme court. Our interest and competence is just to give effect to the judgment ,” Okoye 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 that 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The apex court ordered that the certificate of return be withdrawn immediately from the governor and his deputy and be issued to the candidate with the second highest votes in the Nov. 16, 2019 election.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed shock over Supreme Court ruling nullifying the election of Mr David Lyon as the Governor-elect for the state on Thursday.
The Supreme Court had ruled that Lyon’s deputy Ereminyor submitted forged documents which disqualified the joint ticket and nomination and urged INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to them and reissue same to the next party with the require constitutional spread.
Mr Doifie Buokoribo, the state APC Publicity Secretary told Journalists in Yenogoa that the party was shocked at the development.
“It is a shocking one but one thing that is clear is that the Dickson’s administration must leave tomorrow, there is no room for elongation of tenure not even for one minute.
“It is clear that only APC met the required spread as we won convincingly in five out of the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs), so without that spread I do not see how PDP can make it, certainly the Speaker of the state House of Assembly would be sworn in as Acting Governor.
“Those of them celebrating in the PDP camp are doing so in ignorance,” Buokoribo said.
Before news of the judgement filtered into town, APC faithful were in high spirit preparing for the governor-elect inauguration on Friday.
The governor-elect had earlier visited the proposed venue for his inauguration at Sampson Siasia Stadium, where he rehearsed for the ceremony.
Reacting, Mr Daniel Alabarah, Special Adviser to Gov. Seriake Dickson said that the Supreme Court ruling in favour of PDP was “the will of God”.
“The PDP victory is not by our own power, it is the will of God. Many have defected to APC since the election but today, victory is for us.
“I believe the victory is for Bayelsa and not only for PDP. We want all parties to come together and we can move the state forward,” he said.
