The group said that despite enough evidence before the tribunal proving that the deputy governor lied on oath and submitted only First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) as his highest education qualification, the court ruled in his favour, upholding his qualification to participate in the election and his election as the deputy governor of the state as against the constitutional provisions.
A group under the umbrella of Concerned Bayelsa Citizens in Bayelsa has rejected the judgment of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Tribunal, on the alleged certificate forgery by the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
The group said that despite enough evidence before the tribunal proving that the deputy governor lied on oath and submitted only First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) as his highest education qualification, the court ruled in his favour, upholding his qualification to participate in the election and his election as the deputy governor of the state as against the constitutional provisions.
The governorship candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Udengs Eradiri and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Chief Timipre Sylva, had petitioned the tribunal against the deputy governor and others on allegations bordering on the qualification of the deputy governor to participate in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.
The petitioners alleged that Ewhrudjakpo tendered a forged university degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Exemption Certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification to contest the election.
However, the tribunal in May held that the allegation was a pre-election matter that should have been filed before the Federal High Court.
The tribunal added that the matter had become statute-barred since the petitioners failed to challenge the genuineness of the certificates 14 days after it was submitted to INEC.
According to the tribunal, the issue of Ewhrudjakpo’s educational qualification was previously determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, noting that it took judicial notice of the fact that Ewhrudjakpo is a legal practitioner and for this reason, “the tribunal is satisfied that he was eminently qualified to contest the election.”
However, the group in a statement issued on Wednesday rejected the court ruling, saying that Ewhrudjakpo deposed to on oath in his INEC form EC9 and with the penalties of perjury that he had only obtained a First School Leaving Certificate.
The group said, “To fortify his position, that the highest educational qualification he has obtained is a First School Leaving Certificate, the Deputy Governor while striking out the deliberately, intentionally and consciously Secondary and University education attached only a First School Leaving Certificate of 1976.
“It is important to note that by sections 177 (d) and 318(1)(c)(i-iii) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, a holder of only a First School Leaving Certificate such as the deputy governor of Bayelsa state is totally not qualified to contest the election of the Governor or Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State or any other State for that matter unless INEC is satisfied that the holder of the First School Leaving Certificate had worked or served in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity for a minimum of ten years.
“Attended any course and training in any institutions as may be acceptable to the INEC for a period totalling up to a minimum of one year; and
“Has the ability to read, write, understand, and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the INEC.”
According to them, during the hearing of the case, “the Deputy Governor did not testify himself to support his claim that he was educated up to the level of School Certificate or beyond or that he did not lie on oath, which is a criminal offence”.
It said, “He did not produce the so-called higher education certificates he claimed to have attained, but the Tribunal descended into the battle and supplied evidence that the Deputy Governor who was afraid to come to provide evidence of his qualification and be cross-examined.
“What he did was rather to field a retired Permanent Secretary to talk about his work history in the civil service. Despite the evidence under the hand of the Deputy Governor and documents which he freely filed, signed and sworn on oath that he is merely holder of a First School Leaving Certificate, the Tribunal entered judgment in favour of him. Now, the matter and related one are on appeal.
“We draw attention to recent judicial decisions where the Courts have nullified the elections of certain House of Representatives members over issues of academic qualifications.
“For instance, in September 2023, three Labour Party members from Abia State were sacked by the Tribunal for failing to meet the necessary qualifications and these decisions have been affirmed on appeal.
“Similarly, Muktar Umar Yerima of the NNPP was removed from his position for submitting forged academic credentials.
“The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos sacked the member representing Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency, Stainless Chijioke Nwodo of Labour Party in the same situation as the case against the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.”