BY: RALPH EJIMKONYE, ABUJA
The Supreme Court Wednesday affirmed it’s verdict which sacked Bayelsa State Governor elect and candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, David Lyon.
The apex court stood down an application for a review filed by Lyon and the APC, and affirmed Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP as duly elected Governor of the State.
A seven member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta announced a stand down of the application after listening to oral addresses of counsels on both sides.
The APC had returned to the Supreme Court with a review application, urging the apex court to reverse its decision which it’s candidate and Governor elect,David Lyon.
The party, in an application filed by its team of lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also wanted the apex court to set aside the “wrong” interpretation given to its Judgement of February 13, 2020 and its subsequent execution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party further contended that the Supreme Court misinterpreted the November 12, 2019 judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja which it (the Supreme Court) affirmed.
The APC had also argued in its review applicationthat the Supreme Court acted without jurisdiction and denied it fair hearing when it proceeded to disqualify its governorship candidate even though the Federal High Court, in the judgement by Justice Inyang Ekwo, which the apex court affirmed, refused PDP’s prayer to disqualify Lyon.
The party also faulted the interpretation given to the apex court’s judgement by the INEC in deciding to issue the certificate of return to the candidate of the PDP.