APC To PDP: Diri Is Illegitimate Governor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa says the state governor, Douye Diri, may have been declared winner by the supreme court, but the people consider him as illegitimate.

This was made known in a statement by Doifie Buokoribo, spokesman of APC in the state on Wednesday.

Diri was a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the governorship election in the state and was sworn in as Bayelsa governor, 24 hours after David Lyon, APC candidate and governor-elect, was sacked by the supreme court because Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, his running mate, forged his certificate.

Read Also: Supreme Court Dismisses APC’s Request To Review Bayelsa Judgment

In the statement, Buokoribo said , “The strange decision of the supreme court of Nigeria to ignore the Bayelsa State electorate, make themselves the voters, and impose another person as governor is incompatible with democratic norms. ”

“This is a judgement without justice; this is a judgement without legitimacy. Yes. Even though we are bound by the judgement as a legal entity, our party does not consider the action of the supreme court as fair or just.

“As citizens, we have the right to critique the decision of the apex court. Nobody or institution, not even the governor imposed on us by the Supreme Court or his party, can deny us that right.

“Legally, Douye Diri is the governor of Bayelsa State, but in the hearts and minds of our people, he is illegitimate. He was not the one they voted for. He will bear the burden of illegitimacy throughout his tenancy at Creek Haven, Government House, Yenagoa.”

“As to the charges of violence, Sylva has already disclaimed and denounced the recent protests that took place in Yenagoa and Abuja after the Supreme Court judgement of 13 February 2020,” Buokoribo said.

“In the specific case of Bayelsa state, we have said it time and again that it was the PDP Government under Governor Henry Seriake Dickson that ran a regime of heist, violence and lawlessness since 2012.

”APC and its supporters were, at all times, the victims. His puppet, ‘Governor Dickson II’, otherwise known as senator Douye Diri, has not shown any sign that he will not continue with the regime of lawlessness and grand larceny.”