Bayelsa Guber: UPC candidate dennied withdrawing suit against Gov. Diri …Says, PDP agents bribed Party’s National Chairman

Comrade Stephen Ibiene, the Governorship flag bearer of the United People’s Congress (UPC) in the last November 16th Governorship election in Bayelsa State has denied the claims by some supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that he has withdrawn his petition before the election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja after reaching an agreement with the ruling administration of Governor Douye Diri.

According to Comrade Stephen Ibiene, though the agents of Governor Douye Diri allegedly met with the UPC National Chairman, Keneth Ibekwe and prevailed on him to withdraw the suit filed before the Governorship election petition tribunal over the alleged claim of non-qualification of the State Governor and the deputy, the withdrawal of the Party as represented by the National Chairman does not affected his petition before he was the deponent in the suit.

Comrade Stephen Ibiene, who made this clarification known yesterday after the Governorship election Petition Tribunal , said he was shocked that such lies are being peddled that he withdrew his case against the two respondents, Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy,” I can tell you that they (PDP agents) with the UPC factional National Chairman and agreed for him to withdraw the case from Court.”

“When we got to the Tribunal on Monday, he filed that he wants to withdraw the case. The presiding justice of the Tribunal lambasted them for their lack of foresight. He said the National Chairman was not the deponent and cannot withdraw the case. I am the deponent and am the only one that can withdraw the case. A faction of the party withdrew not me. And it is even better for me that nobody will betray me tomorrow.”

The UPC candidate, Ibiene Stephen had as respondents in the petition as the INEC, Governor Douye Diri, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In his petition, the UPC candidate in his grounds for the Court to declare the Senator Douye Diri and his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and nullify the November 16th Governorship election in the state, claimed that the Governorship election in the eight local government areas of the was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and substantial non-compliance with the provision of the electoral Act,2010.

He also prayed the Court that the duo of Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, were allegedly not duly elected or returned by majority of the lawful votes cast at the Governorship election conducted by INEC.

He also claimed that the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the time of the Governorship election not qualified to contest the election, “that the 2nd respondent had no valid running mate as mandatory required by section 187(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“That the petitioner avers that Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave false information in his INEC form CF 001 to the INEC in support of his nomination, ”For instance, the respondent submitted document which include a statutory Declaration of Age, First School leaving certificate, West African Leaving Certificate (WAEC),General Certificate of Education (GCE), Bachelor of Science ,Secretarial Administration degree certificate, National Youth Corps Certificate of Exemption, which bears different names other than his names, Lawrence Obarawharievwa Ewhrudjakpo, as contained in his sworn INEC form CF001.”

In his five prayers before the Tribunal, Mr. Ibiene Stephen prayed the Court to issue an order nullifying or set aside the certificate of return issued by the INEC to the 2nd and 3rd respondents (Governor Diri and his Deputy) as winners of the election to the office of the Governor, ”an order directing the 1st respondent, INEC, to conduct fresh governorship election within thirty days of judgement in this petition and an order that the 2nd,3rd and 4th respondents, Governor Diri, his Deputy and the PDP ) be disqualified from participating in the fresh Bayelsa Governorship election to be conducted by INEC pursuant to the judgement of the Tribunal.”

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