Posted on Feb 28, 2020
Lawyers and the client, who filed a petition at the tribunal seeking disqualification of the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor and the Governor, Senator Douye Diri, have raised the alarm on threats to their lives.
The lawyers, Pius Danba Pius, Aluzu Ebikebuna and Ebi Robert said the life of their client and governorship candidate of the Liberation Movement at the November 16, 2019 governorship election, Vijah Opuama were constantly under threats by some persons in the state.
Opuama approached the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja seeking the disqualification of the newly sworn-in Deputy Governor, Mr. Lawrence Ewrujakpor.
Opuama in a petition he filed through Pius, his lead lawyer and Ebikebuna, further prayed the court to cancel the November 16, 2019 governorship election and order a fresh poll alleging that the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to comply with the 1999 Constitution.
The candidate listed INEC, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri and his Deputy, Lawrence Ewrujakpor, as respondents to the petition.
Opuama in the petition alleged that Ewrujakpor, the 4th respondent, submitted an affidavit to INEC, the 1st respondent,that contained false information. But Aluzu on Friday lamented that some persons were threatening to kill Opuama following his refusal to withdraw the petition.