Appeal Court Orders INEC to Allow APC, Gov Candidate in Balyesa to Participate in Election

By Shola Akingboye – November 15, 2019

Following an Abuja Federal High Court that nullified the candidacy of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the September 4, 2019 Bayelsa State governorship primary that produced David Lyon as the candidate of the party in tomorrow’s election, an Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission not to remove the All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate, David Lyon, from the ballot, in the Saturday governorship election.

Ruling in Port Harcourt on Friday, the judge order INEC to allow the APC and its candidate to participate in the forthcoming governorship election following an ex parte motion filed by counsel for the Bayelsa State governorship candidate, David Lyon on November 14, 2019.

In another twist, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, yesterday, ordered a stay of execution of the judgment of the Abuja Federal High Court which disqualified the APC deputy governorship candidate in Bayelsa, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, over false information.

The panel, chaired by Justice Stephen Adah, issued an interim order of stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court of November 12, 2019, pending the determination of “the motion on notice for order of interlocutory injunction filed on 13 November 2019.”

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the November 16 election, Chief David Lyon, has reacted to the nullification of the party’s primaries by a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Thursday.

Lyon asked people of Bayelsa State and his supporters not to panic, saying he was still contesting the election.

According to Lyon, the Court of Appeal has ordered all parties to return to the status quo.

He called on the people of the State to come out on Saturday and vote massively for the APC.

The APC guber candidate spoke through the Alternate Director General of the David Lyon and Degi Eremienyo Campaign Organization, Prof. Seyefa Brisibe.

Lyon said, “Let me use this opportunity to let all Bayelsans and our teaming supporters know that there is no cause for alarm. Our candidates, Chief David Lyon and Bishop Degi Eremienyo are fully, squarely on the ballot.

“This is because, we, as law abiding citizens, have done what is proper, judicious and procedural to see that that judgement does not stand.

“I want to appeal to all Bayelsans in the remotest areas, which our next governor stands for, to come out enmass to vote the APC come November 16.”