Breaking: Bayelsa Guber Poll: Appeal court stays execution of Federal High Court judgement

Tina Amanda

An Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt has stayed the execution of the judgement of the Federal High Court which restrained the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Bayelsa, David Lyon from participating in tomorrow’s Gubernatorial Election.

Justice A.O Lokulo Sodipi who led the appeal panel ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to maintain the status quo as of 18th of September 2019 when the case was originally filed, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in the matter.

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Justice Sodipi said the All Progressive Congress’ candidate, David Lyon, is free to contest the tomorrow’s Gubernatorial Election in Bayelsa State.

Recall that a Federal High Court in Bayelsa gave a ruling on the 14th November, restricting the All Progressive Congress, APC, from fielding any candidate in the 2019 Gubernatorial Election in Bayelsa.

The judgement of the lower court had nullified the entire primaries of the APC in Bayelsa and disqualified the candidature of David Lyon.

However, the All Progressive Congress approached the Appeal Court to express their dissatisfaction with the judgement of the lower court.

They filed a motion seeking an interim injunction to restrain INEC from disqualifying its candidate and the party from the list of candidates in the Bayelsa election.

Speaking to our reporter Tina Amanda, Micheal Numa, Counsel to David Lyon, the APC Governorship candidate, thanked the court for staying the judgement of the lower court, adding that the election will go as scheduled pending the hearing of the substantive appeal.

On his part, Sydney Ibanichuka, Counsel to the All Progressive Congress, said the court has granted their prayers, stressing that where there is a wrong there is a remedy in law, as all APC supporters can now cast their votes lawfully.