Politics
Rochas Okorocha Finally Sworn In As Senator
Rochas Okorocha, who is the immediate past Governor of Imo State, has finally been sworn in as a Senator by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, PostNaija reports.
This is, however, happening after a long battle which also included a court suit to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately issue his certificate of return as the Senator-elect for Imo West.
You’ll recall that the electoral umpire, INEC had withheld Okorocha’s certificate of return after its returning officer, had claimed that he declared the former governor of Imo State, winner of the Imo West Senatorial District election under duress.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja had last Friday, ordered INEC to issue the former governor of Imo State, a Certificate of return as the Senator-elect, representing Imo West Senatorial District.
The Electoral umpire, INEC, thus complied with the court’s verdict on Tuesday, thereby issuing Rochas Okorocha the certificate.
The Bayelsa Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been reportedly destroyed and set ablaze by aggrieved thugs protesting the annulment of the election of APC candidate, David Lyon by the Supreme Court.
The protest started at Tombia roundabout and was rounded off at the INEC office in Bayelsa State. Therefore, this led to the vandalization of PDP properties. However, the protest was stopped by the combined efforts of the joint military and the police patrol
Also, other properties destroyed include, four security post of the state high court, billboards with the photos of Duoye Diri were vandalized, and a section of the PDP secretariat was also destroyed by fire.
So, Here is the video;
David Lyon in his reaction to the annulment of his election and the crowning of Duoye Diri as the governor-elect said the judgment was procured.
This he said while addressing a press conference in Bayelsa State this morning. Lyon said the judgment was a “procured judgment”. He has, therefore, pleaded with his supporters to remain calm and maintain law and order.
Preye Oseke, who represented the sacked governor-elect, David Lyon said;
“We are in shock. We as a party and as people of Bayelsa are rejecting the judgment completely. It is a procured judgment. While we have our respect for the revered justices, we believe that this is not the wish of Bayelsans. Again, we are calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission not to issue a certificate of return to the candidate of the PDP because he was unable to score the required 25 percent in two-thirds of the local government areas.
As a party, we are law-abiding; our properties have been destroyed even amid the judgment that came this morning. We are calling on all our supporters to remain calm while our leaders and stakeholders meet and come up with the next line of action. We believe the right thing will be done. The rule of law will be upheld.” he declared
The PDP candidate, Douye Diri has been declared the winner of the Bayelsa Governorship elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
So, the Chairman of the commission made this announcement at the INEC headquarters in Abuja. Also, he said the certificate of return will be given immediately to the winner, Douye Diri.
Recall that the Supreme Court yesterday annulled the election of David Lyon of the APC on the ground that his running mate submitted forged certificates to INEC.
So, here is another photo of Douye Diri at the INEC office to receive the certificate of return.
