Mixed reactions trail Supreme Court’s judgement sacking APC’s Lyon

Nigerians on social media have expressed different opinions to the Supreme Court’s judgment which nullified the election of the All Progressives Congress’, APC, governor-elect, David Lyon and declare the PDP’s candidate, Senator Douye Diri as the new governor-elect of Bayelsa State.

The Supreme Court had nullified the election of Lyon and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo. It declared the PDP candidates the winners.

A five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili delivered the shattering verdict on Thursday.

Odili is the wife of a former PDP governor and PDP chieftain.

The ruling came less than 24 hours to the scheduled swearing-in of Lyon of the All Progressives Congress. While the APC faithful were in high spirits preparing for the governor-elect inauguration.

The governor-elect had earlier visited the proposed venue for his inauguration at Sampson Siasia Stadium, where he rehearsed for the ceremony.

Reacting to the new development, workers in the state have expressed unhappiness over the ruling, stressing that they wanted the APC governor elect instead of the PDP’s, Douye Diri.

Also, Nigerians have taken to the microblogging social media platform, Twitter to give their take on the judgement.

See some reactions:

Most of the APC apologists i have seen were criticizing the APC screening committee that screened the Bayelsa APC governorship aspirants, and not the Supreme Court Judgement.

This is the difference between the Matters that occupy the APC & the PDP.👌🏼

— TallJohn🌍 (@JohnFanimokun) February 13, 2020

What will they say about the Supreme Court now? Is the Nigerian judiciary dead or is it “the last hope of the common man”? 😂 https://t.co/Zo0pMWXoJR

— Dr Joe Abah, OON (@DrJoeAbah) February 13, 2020

https://twitter.com/Mazigburugburu1/status/1227958012066881536?s=20

https://twitter.com/mazigburugburu1/status/1227951098721456129?s=21

One HOPES that these Supreme Court judgements will send a strong message to political parties, candidates and INEC to STRIVE to do things properly: Transparent/Credible Primaries (Zamfara); Inviolability of Electoral Due Process (Imo); Proper Screening/Due Diligence (Bayelsa).

— Tolu Ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) February 13, 2020

I love how APC stans here are taking this Bayelsa Supreme Court judgment. No one is lampooning the SC or calling Chief Justice, Ibrahim Tanko unprintable names

That is the MAIN difference between the support base of both parties.

Well done guys.

— Banqie (@AdeBanqie) February 13, 2020

Supreme Court has done well. Game is game . Lesson learnt . Final score : Imo , APC, Bayelsa PDP. Till the next 4 years. Hope our guys will allow TANKO peace. Don’t forget our sister delivered d judgement , Madam Odili. pic.twitter.com/EgYOejykpV

— Woye (@woye1) February 13, 2020

Bayelsa judgement is a preelection matter that has nothing to do with PDP .

This should not be seen to be compensation for Imo, as it was a post election matter that PDP won both in tribunal and Appeal court only for supreme court to award APC.

Justice must prevail in Imo

— Hamma (@HAHayatu) February 13, 2020

Hearing that the Supreme Court has just ruled that the APC had no candidate in the Bayelsa election last year and the PDP candidate is to be sworn in tomorrow as the Governor.

Waiting for media to confirm with full reporting but it seems from my sources that Bayelsa is PDP.

— 'Demola Olarewaju (@DemolaRewaju) February 13, 2020

Lyon presented fake certificate. Buhari presented no certificate but swore affidavit that it is with military, military said is not with them, implying Buhari lied under oath which is perjury

Supreme court sacks Lyon but said Buhari won as even ability to read and write is ok

— Hamma (@HAHayatu) February 13, 2020

Justice Mary Odili? Please end this narrative! There were five justices on the panel, all of them had equal vote, and the judgment was unanimous. No need for conspiracy theory, the guy submitted fake documents, and the court did their thing: https://t.co/zXZ968dnZc

— Sola (@Advsola) February 13, 2020

In 2015, James Falake of @APCNigeria was not allowed to inherit Abubakar Audu votes even though they were on joint ticket. In 2019, David Lyon of APC was punished by d SC for d sin of his Deputy coz they were on joint ticket

How can APC allow Mary Odili to head d SC panel?

— Samuel Omogor (@SamuelOmogor) February 13, 2020

Oh my Naija. Mary Odili is the wife of former governor of Rivers state and a major stakeholder of PDP. That alone should have disqualified her from heading the judgement team in the BAYELSA deputy governor's case. PDP dey cry, APC dey cry. I dey mind my business… 😂

— Nnamdi Onu (@MaziNnamdiOnu) February 13, 2020

Democracy is working well😐
And they wont tell the UN that Justice Odili , wife of a PDP chief, was head of the panel that transferred Bayelsa to the PDP.

If Mary Odili handles Buhari and Atiku case. Walahi Buhari won’t escape. Buhari would have been in Daura chilling.

— Engr. Azeez Ibrahim (@azeez_ibrahim11) February 13, 2020

Deputy Governor elect of your party presented a forged certificate in Bayelsa but is Mary Odili you're all blaming. You people need to check your brain. Did Mary Odili ask him to used a forged certificate?

— WaleWorldwide (@walexcul) February 13, 2020

I really feel sorry for this innocent man the "former Governor elect" David Lyon. Earlier today, he was at the Stadium rehearsing against tomorrow hand over ceremony. Learning how to wave, how to smile and steps to take. #Mary Odili judgement gave him Smack Down pic.twitter.com/usrPpLUIAH

— 𝔼𝕟𝕟𝕪 (@ennyola0015) February 13, 2020

Justice Mary Odili led Bayelsa Supreme Court Judgement that ousted David Lyon is just so unfortunate bcos PDP will now reap where it did not sow.

PDP was never ready as a party going into that election & Dickson caused that defeat.

But APC came with an even bigger incompetence.

— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) February 13, 2020

Pls lets be reasonable here… Mary odili or no Mary Odili, it ws the right judgment, Pdp nvr argued tht they won the election bcos we all knw Apc beat them hands down in Bayelsa… Pdp only took this case up bcos the deputy to David lyon used forged documents.

— MANUEL💭💎 (@Manuelizu) February 13, 2020

https://twitter.com/Igbokwuni/status/1228015235937841153?s=20

If I were Lyon of Bayelsa, I'll drive my deputy Governorship candidate to Maiduguri and abandon him at the city gates after 6pm.

— Malachy Odo II (@MalachyOdo1) February 13, 2020

“Every member of APC screening committee that screened Bayelsa APC governorship aspirants must be suspended by the party.”

— Abubakar Sidiq Usman (@MrAbuSidiq) February 13, 2020

https://twitter.com/OgbeniDipo/status/1227960087773401089?s=20

https://twitter.com/Mazigburugburu1/status/1227955618608222209?s=20

All PDP members in the Bayelsa House of Assembly that defected to APC after the election MUST lose their seats. The party must use Bayelsa as an example to show discipline.

— Prince 'Yemi Adebowale (@yemi_adebowale) February 13, 2020

The judiciary is stylishly sanitizing our political system, from Zamfara to Rivers, Imo to Bayelsa, they’re telling the politicians, INEC and the political parties that they must be responsible and play by the rules. And the Buhari government must be commended in all of this

— Souljah (@jeffphilips1) February 13, 2020

When d S'Court sacked @OfficialPDPNig's Ihedioha in Imo for @OfficialAPCNg's Uzodinma, PDP said it was a "very sad commentary on the nation’s democratic order".

Now that d court has sacked APC for PDP in Bayelsa, is this another sad commentary?

PDP, waiting for your statement.

— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) February 13, 2020