Governor Diri, PDP Spent Over N15 Billion To Bribe Judiciary In 2019 – APC Chieftain Claims

Former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of bribing the judiciary with over N15 billion at the previous governorship election that saw the emergence of Governor Duoyey Diri.

Naija News recalls that the Supreme Court sacked David Lyon, the winner of the 2019 Bayelsa election, less than 24 hours before his inauguration as governor of Bayelsa state in 2020.

However, speaking after casting his vote at the ongoing governorship election in Bayelsa state, Nabena said “We as APC members, we went for the people because it is the people that have the votes. While the PDP was busy going through the judiciary, Duoye Diri and the PDP spent over N15 billion to come through the back door, but this time around, the judiciary did what they were supposed to do, the right thing, so he is finding it difficult because he didn’t invest in the people.”

In November 2019, Lyon, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, was proclaimed winner of the governorship election in Bayelsa.

However, Supreme Court judges headed by Mary Odili ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revoke Lyon’s certificate of return and give one to the candidate who received the second-most votes.

The ruling of a federal high court that disqualified Lyon’s running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, for submitting falsified credentials to INEC, was upheld by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court held that the action of Degi-Eremienyo affected Lyon because both men ran on a joint ticket, leading to the emergence of Diri as the state governor.