All Progressives Congress
(APC) deputy governorship candidate in the Bayelsa State governorship election
in Bayelsa State, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo has debunked the premise
which the Supreme Court based its stunning verdict of 13 February, nullifying
his election, along with the governorship candidate, David Lyon.
The Supreme Court held that
Degi-Eremienyo presented forged certificates to the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC).
But the senator said he did
not forge any certificate and accused the court of reputation damage.
Degi-Eremienyo, who spoke
for the first time to reporters in Abuja, said the allegations were not proven
and that those who issued the certificates were never contacted.
“The aim of this press
conference is to defend my reputation which the Justices of the Supreme Court,
whether consciously or unconsciously, subjected to scurrilous scandal, assault
and unfair imputation.
“The judgment of the
Supreme Court that I was not qualified to contest as the deputy governorship
candidate of APC and my attendant disqualification adversely affected the
governorship candidate of the APC.
“The result was that our
hard-earned victory, not just for ourselves, but our party and the majority of
the good people of Bayelsa State who have entrusted us with the mandate to
democratically govern them, is threatened.
“The event of my
disqualification is distressing and traumatising to me personally and, of
course, a greater trauma was inflicted on my party, the governorship candidate
and the good people of Bayelsa who signified their choice of who should be
their governor and deputy governor.
“It is this unsolicited
assault on my personality and reputation by the judgment in question that has
constrained me to chart this course.
“Unless unfair imputation to
character is quickly corrected, it assumes the toga of truth.
“It was clearly a desperate
and calculated attempt not just to grab power through the judicial process but
equally to tarnish my good image and bring same to disrepute on completely
false and unproven allegations.”
Senator Degi claimed that
he was denied a fair hearing.
“As a lawmaker, I know that
what Section 182(1) (j) of the Constitution contemplates is that a candidate
cannot present forged educational certificates not belonging to him to aid his
constitutional qualification.
“Forgery can, therefore,
not be defined in different context simply to lower the burden of proof in
order to meet a political end.
“The seeming discrepancies
in my name, which I have adequately explained by an affidavit was not impeached
by any evidence that the names were misspelt by the issuing authorities.
“The issuing authorities
who are accessible by my accusers were not called to impeach my assertion in
the affidavit explaining away these errors I stated which were not illegal.
“As a lawmaker, I have
enormous regard for the judiciary. I am aware that my party has headed to
Supreme Court for a review of the judgement.
“By the grace of God,
our second journey to the Supreme Court will end in celebration
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