Bayelsa: We can’t act on newspaper report from INEC

INEC said it would effect the Supreme Court judgment once it is served with its certified true copy.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, in Abuja, said INEC was bound to obey court orders or judgments.

He stated, “It is when we receive the certified true copy of the judgment that we have clear understanding of what the court tells us to do and we will give effect to the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“All we have heard and seen as of today are just newspapers reports. We are waiting for our lawyers who are part of the proceedings, and certified true copy of the judgment to enable us to study and give effect to it.”

Prominent lawyers expressed different views on the judgment. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe, in an interview with The PUNCH, described the Bayelsa State situation as messy.

He noted that the state might end up with the Speaker of the state House of Assembly as acting governor, before INEC conducted a fresh election.

Another SAN, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, lamented what he described as the growing trend of the court taking over the power of the Nigerian electorate to choose their political leaders.

Read more: https://punchng.com/uncertainty-surrounds-bayelsa-gov-as-scourt-sacks-apc-lyon/