By Uche Mbah
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, had urged the Independent National Election Commission, INEC, to ignore the Supreme Court Judgement that nullified the election of their candidate, David Lyon, but instead to conduct a fresh election in the state. INEC seemed to have ignored his request, resulting in the alleged venting of frustration by his irate supporters that resulted in the destruction of properties belonging to the new governor.
Recall that the Supreme Court ordered INEC to swear in the party that came second in the Governorship election that brought in the APC as the elected party in the state. This was a day before the swearing in of the APC candidate, who had already concluded his swearing in rehearsals.
All hotels had already been booked by the party hierarchy, and president Buhari was billed to arrive the state to commission a project as part of the swearing in after party.
Buhari, however, cancelled his visit after the Supreme court ruling.
But it was gathered that after the Court ruling, the Chairman of the All progressives Congress Adams
Oshiomhole wrote to the election umpire to request that the certificate of return should not be given to the PDP as, according to him, the APC votes will be used to compute the result of the runner up. “We further request that a fresh election” be reconducted by INEC, Oshiomhole wrote.
INEC appeared to have ignored the plea as it eventually withdrew the certificate of return from the APC candidate and given to the PDP candidate.
The PDP candidate, Douye Diri, has since been sworn in.
After his swearing in, he went and presented his certificate of return to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who praised said that his election was divinely approved. Jonathan had supported the election of Timi Alaibe as governorship candidate of the PDP, but the former governor Seriake Dickson chose Diri. This allegedly caused the switch of allegiance that resulted in Patient Jonathan campaigning for the APC in the elections. Her support won APC the election. The supreme Court ruling seem to have mended fences between them.
