Justice Jane Inyang of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has ruled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no candidate for the Saturday governorship election in the state.
Justice Inyang pronounced that the governorship primary conducted by the APC in Bayelsa state was not done in compliance with the guidelines and the constitution of the party, and, therefore, the party has no candidate.
This development is coming two days to the election.
The court declaration, was part of its judgement in a case filed by Heineken Lokpobiri, one of the APC governorship aspirants.
Mr Lokpobiri, a former minister of state for agriculture, had approached the court
asking it to declare him, and not David Lyon, the authentic candidate of the APC.
His lawyer, Fitzgerald Olorogun, who told reporters immediately after the court ruling expressed shocked pointing out that the court declaration was not part of their prayers.
Asked what was the next option for his client, Mr Olorogun said “We’ll do the needful. But for now, the pronouncement of the court is that APC has no candidate.”
There was heavy police presence within and outside the court premises.
The main highway way leading to the court was barricaded by the police. Visitors, including journalists, were frisked before they were allowed to enter the court building.
Mr Lokpobiri, before now, has been urging the people of Bayelsa to vote for the APC in the November 16 election, despite his court case against Mr Lyon and the party.
Details shortly…
