David Lyon Perewonrimi (born 20 December 1970) is a Nigerian politician and the former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the

2019 Bayelsa gubernatorial election The 2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election occurred on 16 November 2019, the APC nominee David Lyon won the election, defeating Douye Diri of the PDP. David Lyon emerged APC gubernatorial candidate after defeating his closest rival, Di ...

. He was declared winner of the election, but a day to his swearing-in as governor, his election was invalidated by the

Supreme Court of Nigeria The Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) is the highest court in Nigeria, and is located in the Central District, Abuja, in what is known as the Three Arms Zone, so called due to the proximity of the offices of the Presidential Complex, the National Ass ...

. The Apex court ruled that his running mate

Degi Eremienyo Wangagra Biobarakuma Wangagha Degi Eremienyo (born 22 February 1959), is a Nigerian politician and the senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district of Bayelsa State at the 9th National Assembly. In 2019, he was appointed the vice chairman senate ...

submitted a fake certificate to the

Independent National Electoral Commission The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was established in 1998 and is the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria. History Regulation and administration of elections The administration of democratic elections in Nige ...

, while ordering that

Douye Diri Douye Diri (born 4 June 1959) is a Nigerian politician and Governor of Bayelsa State, Governor of Bayelsa State. He was the senator representing Bayelsa Central senatorial district of Bayelsa state at the Nigerian 9th National Assembly. Early li ...

of People's Democratic Party who came second in the election be issued a certificate of return, which would make him governor-elect.

Early life and education

Lyon was born to Mr and Mrs Arukubu Lyon Ekpeke of Abebiri family of Eubiri compound, Olugbobiri community in Olodiama clan, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area,

Bayelsa State Bayelsa is one of the states in the South-South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta region. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. Yena ...

, Nigeria. From 1978 to 1983, he attended his primary education at Saint Gabriel's State School Olugbobiri and secondary education at Community secondary school, Olugbobiri, from 1984 to 1988. He preceded to Rivers State College of Education for his National Certificate of Education (NCE) in Mathematics and Chemistry.

Career

Lyon started his career as a foreman in Western Geophysical Company Limited, before moving on to become the chief executive officer (CEO) of Darlon Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Darlon Group Nigeria Limited and Arutex and Sons Nigeria Limited. Lyon joined politics in the Third Republic, as a member of the defunct, National Republican Congress (NRC). He contested and won a councilorship election at Ward 4 in Southern Ijaw, but the military incursion aborted his tenure in 1997. He went on to become a founding member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Southern Ijaw. He was later appointed as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Apoi Olodiama Local Government Development Center in 2000. In 2015, he decamped to the All Progressives Congress and contested the

governorship primary election in September 2019, where he emerged as the party's candidate. On 18 November 2019, he contested in the governorship elections and was declared the governor-elect of Bayelsa State by the

, INEC. On 13 February 2020, a day prior to his swearing-in as governor, his election was invalidated by the

. The Apex court ruled that his running mate

submitted a fake certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, while ordering that

of People's Democratic Party who came second in the election be issued a certificate of return, which would make him governor-elect.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyon, David 1970 births Living people All Progressives Congress state governors of Nigeria Nigerian philanthropists