The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) struck out Sylva from the Bayelsa gov list and has updated the lists of candidates for the governorship elections in Bayelsa and Imo states.
According to the updated list published on the commission’s website on Tuesday, the names of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress, were omitted from the Bayelsa State election roster.
The document was officially signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
Reports have it that the column for the names of the APC candidate and his ruining mate was left blank with “court order” remarks on it.
In Imo State, the commission has also included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the gubernatorial candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, both representing the People’s Redemption Party for the upcoming state election.
In the revised document, Oriaran-Anthony clarified that the commission’s actions were carried out in compliance with court orders regarding the candidate lists that had been served to the commission.
She also noted that the commission had initially published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9, following the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as the established timetable and schedule of activities for the election.
After the list was made public, she stated that the commission received a court order related to the nomination of the APC candidate for the Bayelsa State governorship election.
“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the commission is bound to enforce the orders of the court on the nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.”
“The amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election is hereby amended under the orders of court served on the commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.
Additionally, for Imo State, Oriaran-Anthony also noted that INEC released the definitive list of candidates for the state’s governorship election on June 9th, in keeping with Section 32 of the 2022 Electoral Act and the Election Timetable and Schedule of Activities.
“After the said publication, the Commission was served with an Order of Court for the inclusion of the PRP and its candidate on the list of candidates for the 2023 Imo State governorship election.”
“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the commission is bound to enforce the orders of the court on the nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.”
“The amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Imo State Governorship election is hereby amended under the orders of court served on the Commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, On October 10, issued a ruling that disqualified Sylva from participating in the upcoming state governorship election.
Justice Donatus Okorowo, in the judgment, stated that allowing Sylva to contest would violate the amended 1999 constitution, as he had previously served as Bayelsa State governor for two terms, totaling five years.
The judge further emphasized that Sylva was ineligible for the November election because his victory and subsequent swearing-in would result in him exceeding the constitutional limit of eight years in office as the state’s governor.
Additionally, the Federal High Court in Owerri, in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023 – PRP & Anor v. INEC, and other related cases, issued a similar order directing INEC to include the PRP governorship candidate’s name in the list of nominated candidates already published on the INEC website.
