APC Loses Out As INEC Removes Sylva, Deputy From List Of Bayelsa Guber Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC,) has removed the names of the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva and his deputy, Joshua Maciver from the list of qualified candidates for November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The development was conveyed in an amended list of governorship candidates for the November 11 gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States published on the INEC website on Tuesday.

A statement by Rose Oriarian-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission, said the exclusion of Sylva and his deputy from the list followed a recent order of court.

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“INEC published the list of candidates for the Bayelsa State Governorship election on June 9 in accordance with the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended).“After the said publication, the Commission was served with an order of the court in respect of the nomination of the candidate of the APC for the 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State.“

Also, by virtue of the provisions of Section 287 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), INEC is bound to enforce the orders of the court:”, she added.

The Federal High Court, in Abuja, had on October 10, disqualified Sylva from contesting the November 11 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state.

Ruling in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023, filed by Deme Kolomo, a member of the APC, Justice Donatus Okorowo held that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

According to the court, Sylva’s disqualification was inevitable because if he wins and eventually sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor.