Candidates List : INEC Takes Fresh Action On Sylva’s Name
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted the name of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Timipre Sylva, from the final list of candidates for the upcoming November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State.
The updated list, which was posted on the commission’s website on Tuesday, bears the signature of the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
Upon review on Wednesday, it was observed by Channels Television that the section reserved for the names of the APC candidate and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, remained empty, accompanied by a notation citing a “court order.”
Oriaran-Anthony explained that the commission’s action aligns with court directives pertaining to the candidate lists, which were formally presented to the commission.
She recalled that INEC initially released the final roster of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9, in compliance with the stipulations of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the provided Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election. Subsequently, after the publication, INEC received a court order concerning the nomination of the APC candidate for the 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,” Oriaran-Anthony said.
“The Amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the orders of court served on the commission.”
On October 10, the Federal High Court in Abuja barred Sylva from participating in the state’s governorship election. Justice Okorowo’s ruling was based on the fact that Sylva had already been sworn in twice and served five years as governor of the state. Allowing him to contest again would contravene the 1999 constitution as amended.
The judge further emphasized that Sylva was ineligible to run in the November poll, as his victory and subsequent inauguration would result in him spending more than eight years in office as governor.
The APC in Bayelsa State has stated its intention to appeal the Federal High Court’s decision to disqualify Timipre Sylva, their candidate in the upcoming governorship election. Perry Tukuwei, the Director of Media and Publicity for the APC Bayelsa Governorship Campaign Council, argued that the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in violation of the Electoral Act.
