Bayelsa: Oshiomhole Vows To Challenge INEC’s Declaration Of Diri In Court

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has rejected the declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s Douyle Diri as winner of the Bayelsa governorship election vowing to appeal it in the courts.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Oshiomhole accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC of usurping judicial powers to itself by interpreting the judgment as it liked.

“INEC has decided to assume that the case of Bayelsa is the same with that of Zamfara. INEC has assumed judicial powers.

“We have consulted and resolved to reject in entirety the decision to issue certificate to the PDP candidate. We want to put the people of Nigeria on notice and of course the people of Bayelsa that nobody can hide under judicial cover to impose a minority on the people, even INEC is in contempt of the court.

“The Supreme Court for good reason gave a conditional order that INEC should swear in the second candidate with the highest number of votes and the required constitutional spread. I believe that the fact  that the Supreme Court insisted on constitutional spread is a recognition of the fact that the constitution does not want a situation in which anyone, governor or president presides over the affairs of a state without at least enjoying two-third support of the electorate of that state.  Clearly,  the votes scored by PDP and their candidate in that election only met the requirement in five local governments and you need six local governments to meet the requirements of two-third. The PDP candidate did not satisfy this requirement. INEC is now choosing to appropriate the judicial powers of the court to interpret laws that it is neither competent to do nor has the mandate so to do. 

“We recognize that having purported to have sworn in or issued certificate to the PDP candidate, we still believe that there are viable legal windows that we will explore. We affirm our confidence in the judiciary even with pains in our hearts,” Oshiomhole said.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG