Bayelsa: Supreme Court Sacks David Lyon As Gov-elect 24 Hours To Inauguration

The Supreme Court has voided the election of David Lyon, the governor-elect of Bayelsa State, and Biobarakiuma Degi-Eremienyo, his deputy.
The annulment was ordered by a five-man panel of the Supreme Panel led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili less than 24 hours to the inauguration of Lyon, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State.
The apex court declared Senator Duoye Diri, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the governorship election, being the next candidate with the highest number of votes.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, had on November 12 disqualified the APC from participating in the election over submitting forged educational certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court ruled Degi-Eremienyo’s disqualification had affected the joint ticket with which he and Lyon ran for and won the election.
However, the Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the lower court just days before the election.
But delivering the lead judgment of the apex court, Justice Ejembi Ekwo upheld the judgment of the high court and ordered the disqualification of Deji-Eremienyo and the APC from the election.
The judge also ordered INEC to issue fresh certificates to the candidates of the party with the next highest votes and with the required constitutional spread of votes in the results of the election.