In the middle of war of words between All Progressives Congress APC and the Peoples Democratic Party PDP over to be swear in as Democratically elected governor of Bayelsa state, it’s becomes very important, Adam Oshiomhole the APC National Chiarman
Reacting to the sack of David Lyon, his party’s candidate who was declared winner of the election but sacked by the supreme court, Oshiomhole said the PDP candidate did not meet the requirement for swearing in.
At a press conference in Abuja, Oshiomhole said the supreme court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Lyon and present another to the candidate, who has the required spread in the election.
He said there was no candidate in the election that met the requirement apart from Lyon, adding that the implication is that from Friday Bayelsa will be without a governor from the above reaction, it’s obvious the national chairman is talking from a political points not the law, Bayelsa State has 8 Local Government Areas.
Constitutionally, 25% in 2/3 of the LGAs in Bayelsa State means getting 25% in 5 LGAs of the state.
By and large, the PDP candidate scored 25% in 5 LGAs in Bayelsa.
1. In Yenagoa LG, the PDP scored 19,189 votes out of a total of 43,796 votes to meet the 25% requirement of the total votes cast in the LG.
2. In Sagbama LG, the PDP scored 60,399 votes out of 68,230 total votes cast to meet 25% requirement.
3. In Kolokuma/Opokuma LG, the PDP scored 15,360 votes out of total of 24,294 votes cast to meet 25% requirement.
4. In Ekeremor LG, the PDP scored 18,344 votes out of total of 39,833 votes cast to meet 25% requirement.
5. In Brass LG, the PDP scored 10,410 votes out of total of 34,241 votes to meet 25% requirement.
Section 179(2)(a)(b) of the Constitution provides that:
A candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a state shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates:
(a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and
(b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the Local Governments in the state .
Two-thirds of 8 LGs in Bayelsa State is 5 LGs.
The APC has 25% and above in 7 LGs.
The PDP has 25% in 5 LGs .
Based on the strength of the disqualification of the APC’s candidate by the Supreme Court, a judgement which voided the votes of the APC, the candidate of PDP has met the constitutional requirements to be declared Governor of Bayelsa State.