Honorable Shina Peller, a member of the house of representatives has made his views on the Bayelsa State Gubernatorial elections result that was canceled by Justice Mary Odili, a 5-Justice panel.
Recall that the Supreme Court sacked the Governor-elect of Bayelsa State, Governor David Lyon of the All Progressive Congress, and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a certificate of return to Duoye Diri, the candidate with the next highest vote count and spread required by law.
This is what has generated a strong reaction from Shina Peller, also a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The lawmaker faulted the verdict of the Supreme Court and blamed it on a “faulty democratic process we run here in Nigeria.”
Shina Peller further went ahead to call for a review of the electoral law and demanded that the Supreme Court should have little say in election matters, which, he said, would reduce the race-to-court after elections.
Read his statement on the Bayelsa State Governor’s election below.
“BAYELSA STATE JUDGEMENT: FAULTY DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, JURISPRUDENCE, NEED FOR ELECTORAL REFORM – Hon. Shina Peller
“The verdict of the Supreme Court on the Bayelsa State Governorship election exposes the kind of faulty democratic process we run here in Nigeria.
“My opinion is not based on me being a member of the ruling All Progressive Party, APC, but on the premise of being a patriotic Nigerian. For, it is crystal clear that the country’s jurisprudence is faulty and on a sharp decline.
“How we got to the point where the court could nullify lawful votes by citizens beats my imagination by far – we are faced with a deepening systemic failure with ignorance of the workings of the administrative state.
“The electoral law should be reviewed and reformed to reduce the role of the judiciary In deciding the outcome of elections. This would make the resort to court on pre-election cases and election petition matters minimal.
