Bayelsa Guber: Palpable Tension As Tribunal Delivers Judgment Saturday

There are obvious fear and vivid apprehension currently in Bayelsa, as the state’s Governorship Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja is set to deliver judgement on Saturday, August 15, 2020.

The case judgement is between Vijah Opuama vs the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), People’s Democratic Party, Senator Douye Diri and Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

Vijah Opuama of the Liberation Movement had filed his petition on February 21, 2020, challenging the declaration of Douye Diri as governor and Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as deputy governor of Bayelsa State.

The case, at the beginning, seemed unserious after the declaration of Diri as governor of the state by the Supreme Court which disqualified David Lyon, the then Governor-elect.

Behind the case was three young lawyers, Ebikebuna Aluzu, Pius Danba and Ebi Robert, with the PDP leaders dismising the case as dead on arrival, until further scrutiny of the processes proved otherwise.

Opuama is leaning his case on alleged irregularities on the academic qualifications of Ewhrudjakpo, asking the court to disqualify the deputy governor and for the cancellation of the governorship election.

He also prayed the court to order a fresh election in Bayelsa, alleging that the poll conducted by the INEC failed to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Upon the close of pleadings and adoption of addresses by all the parties concerned, the tribunal had adjourned for judgment on a date to be communicated to all the parties.

However, after the disclosure of the day of judgement, fear and anxiety tends to have circulated in the state, especially on the PDP not knowing where the pendulum will swing to.

The DAILY VENDOR gathered that the state officials are not relenting considering what happened to David Lyon 24 hours to his inauguration.

Bayelsa politician, Christopher Abarowei, said the case is a 50:50 probability between the both but was concerned about the state of governance and progress in the state with the unnecessary litigations.

He maintained that Governor Diri had not formed a government because he has been attending to court cases.

Meanwhile, the state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said he was not worried about the result of the judgment.