The Court of Appeal in Abuja will today hear an appeal by Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Udengmobofa Eradiri, challenging the May 17 decision of the Governorship Election Tribunal.
The respondents in the appeal CA/ABJ/EP/GOV/BY/10/2024 are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Douye Diri, Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor Timipre Sylva.
Reconciliation of files in the case began on June 24.
The appellant had claimed that Ewhrudjakpo was not qualified to participate in the election held on November 11, 2023.
Eradiri and Sylva had urged the tribunal to hold that Diri and Ewhrudjakpo were not qualified because the deputy lied about his academic qualification in Form EC9 he submitted to INEC.
Eradiri also contended that by sections 177 (d) and 318(1)(c)(i-iii) of the Constitution (as amended), a holder of only a First School Leaving Certificate such as the deputy governor was not qualified to contest the election.
During the hearing, the deputy governor did not testify himself to support his claim that he was educated up to the school certificate level or beyond or that he did not lie on oath.