The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday restated its resolve to remove newly sworn in Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, hinted of the strategy the party intended to use to achieve the goal, insisting that the will of the Bayelsa electorate would prevail in due course with a call for fresh poll.
“The contentions over the Bayelsa governorship election are far from over. We are all aware of the alleged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate forgery case of the Bayelsa Deputy Governor-elect, Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo, as well as the decision of national leadership of the APC to continue to pursue all legal avenues to contest INEC’s decision to declare Diri as Bayelsa Governor, having failed to meet the mandatory constitutional requirement to clinch the position.
“I urge all lovers of democracy to continue to demand that the rule of law is adhered to, not only in the case of Bayelsa State, but in all matters. Democracy is a game of numbers and the majority must have their way,” he stated.
Nabena said PDP’s volte face commendation of the Supreme Court and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the declaration of Diri as governor has exposed the opposition party as a fraudulent and a two-faced political party.
Urging Nigerians to be wary of “motor park politicians majorly in the opposition PDP, he stressed the need for adherence to the rule of law.
“The party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, while affirming the supremacy of the Apex Court, forwarded a letter to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu titled: ‘Judgement in Appeal No: SC.1/2020 between Peoples Democratic Party: Request for conduct of fresh governorship election in Bayelsa State.’”
“When the Supreme Court decided against the PDP on the Imo State governorship, PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, protested to the European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK) and United States (U.S.) embassies, wailing that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat. What has suddenly changed in the case of the Bayelsa governorship?
“This only goes to show that these foreign concerns and all Nigerians must be wary of the motor park politics and insincere antics of the PDP,” the statement added.
Besides, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has urged calm and restraint over the Supreme Court’s nullification of the election of Lyon and swearing in of PDP’s Diri as governor.
In a statement, Sylva also apologised to President Muhammadu Buhari for the disruption of his programme regarding his earlier scheduled visit to Bayelsa for the inauguration of Lyon as governor before the Supreme Court ruling.
In his first statement since the development, Sylva, a former governor of the state and APC chieftain, enjoined the people to “shun all acts of violence and lawlessness.
“Also of great importance to me is to extend my profound apology to Buhari over the disruption of his busy schedule, which was caused by the events of the moment.
“I am aware that Mr. President and his wife, Aisha had concluded arrangements to travel to Bayelsa to witness the inauguration of the APC governorship candidate. I, therefore, extend my apology to Mr. President and members of his entourage,” he said.
Sylva asked the people of Bayelsa to apply “restraint at all times,” saying, “although the events of the last few days are as painful as they are regrettable, however tempting it might be for anyone to take the laws into their hands, such temptation must be resisted in the interest of our state and the political stability of the country at large.”
He said the APC leadership had directed its team of legal experts to “study the situation critically and proffer legal options available to the party accordingly”, adding, “We should, therefore, all remain faithful to and have confidence in, the wisdom and ability of the party leadership to provide direction at this very sensitive time.”