Sacked Bayelsa Speaker Refuses To Vacate Seat

Despite the ruling by the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state which nullified his election, Kombowei Benson, the sacked speaker of Bayelsa state House of Assembly has remained in office.

In a report on The Punch, it was gathered that Benson chaired the House that received the 2016 Appropriation Bill of the state government from Governor Seriake Dickson.

This comes exactly 40 days after the Appeal Court nullified his election after a case filed by Ebifaghe Orunimighe, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the House of Assembly seat in Southern Ijaw Constituency 4.

Benson, who represents Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was sacked by the Appeal Court on December 9 after a judgment delivered set aside the decision of the tribunal which had earlier upheld his election.

However, displeased with the verdict, Ebifaghe Orunimighe challenged the victory of Kombowei on the grounds that election did not take place in four wards and that in the areas where election took place, there were cases of over-voting.

Oruminighe said in his petition that there was no election in Olodiama Ward 3, Apoi Ward 15, Forupa Ward 14 and Ukubie Ward 16.

But on October 16, 2015, the House of Assembly election petition tribunal presided over by Justice Ononnaeze Madu dismissed Orunimighe’s petition for lack of proofs.

However, Justices Mohammed Garba, Ejembi Eko and Stephen Adah, who sat on the appeal panel that delivered the judgment set aside the decision of the tribunal and upheld the prayers of Oruminighe.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Eko said: “Election/Return of the 1st Respondent, Hon. Benson Friday Konbowei as the purported winner of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly seat for Southern Ijaw Constituency Four (4)  elections held on 11th April 2015 was null and void.

“It is hereby ordered that fresh elections shall be conducted in all the wards of the constituency within 90days from today except in Olodiama  Ward four(4) and the polling units 20-30 in Foropa Ward four(4) .

“These results from Olodiama Ward four(4) and polling unit 20-30 in Foropa Ward Four (4) shall upon the fresh elections in other wards as ordered, thereafter be duly collated and final declaration/return made.”

 
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