The supreme court has sacked All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, David Lyon as the governor-elect of Bayelsa. state

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Douye Diri, its governorship candidate, had filed a suit against Lyon, Degi-Eremienyo and INEC, seeking the disqualification of the APC deputy governorship candidate.

They alleged Degi-Eremienyo had given false information in his CF 0001 form submitted to INEC.

Inyang Ekwo, the trial court judge ruled in favour of the PDP on November 12, 2019.

Ekwo held that there was no connection between the name on the candidate’s school-leaving certificate, first degree (BA), master’s degree and the affidavits he swore.

However, the court of appeal upturned the decision of the trial court and affirmed the candidature of Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo.

Stephen Adah, the justice who chaired the three-man panel of the appellate court, said that the PDP did not prove their case against the APC candidates.

The court held that Degi-Eremienyo submitted an affidavit which showed evidence of his change of name from Adeyi-Eremienyo to Degi-Eremienyo.

“I agree with the appellant that the owner of the school leaving certificate and the GCE certificate are one and the same and I therefore set aside the judgment of the court below,” Adah said.

Not satisfied with the decision of the court of appeal, Diri and his party filed an appeal at the supreme court.

In its judgment, the apex court set aside the judgment of the appellate court and affirmed the judgment which nullified the candidature of Degi-Eremienyo.

Ejembi Eko, who read the lead judgment, ordered INEC to issue candidates of the party with the next highest number of lawful votes and with the required constitutional geographical spread in the election.

Consequently, Diri Duoye, candidate of the PDP, who secured 143,172 votes against Lyon’s 352,552, will now be inaugurated as governor of Bayelsa.