Appeal Court Orders INEC to Retain APC on Ballot in Bayelsa Election

Matilda Omonaiye/

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt today granted a stay of execution to the ruling of a Federal High Court in Bayelsa nullifying the candidature of David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in tomorrow’s governorship election. 

The high court had nullified Lyon candidature on the grounds that he emerged through a flawed primary election.

The court asked INEC to proceed with the exercise with the APC on the ballot, pending the determination of the case.

In his comm on the development, Lyon’s counsel said: “The implication is that the effect of the judgement of the Federal High court is suspended.It is assume there was no judgement at all until when  the Court of Appeal hears the matter.If they later agree with the judgement, the ruling comes back.

“Wit what we got in the court of Appeal  Abuja and this one,it means that David Lyon and (his running mate) are the APC candidates  for this gubernatorial election tomorrow(Saturday).That is the implication.”

Earlier, the court of appeal sitting in Abuja had halted the judgement disqualifying Lyon’s running mate for allegedly filing false academic information.