INEC excludes Sylva from Bayelsa gov candidates list

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded the name of Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the newly released amended lists of candidates for Bayelsa and Imo State’s governorship elections scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 11.

The amended list uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday shows that Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were not included in the Bayelsa State election.

The list also shows that the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and its candidate, Uchechukwu Ishiodu, have been included in the list of candidates for the Imo State governorship election.

The list was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, who told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the commission’s action was in obedience to court orders on the lists.

Oriaran-Anthony recalled that the commission published the final list of candidates for the Bayelsa State governorship election on June 9, 2023. However, after the publication, the commission was served with a court order disqualifying Sylva from participating in the election.

She also stated that after the publication, the commission was served with a court order in respect of 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,” 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.”

For Imo State, Oriaran-Anthony noted that INEC published the final list of candidates for the state governorship election on June 9, 2023. However, after the publication, the commission was served with a court order for the inclusion of the PRP and its candidate on the list of candidates.

“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 pursuant to the orders of court served on the Commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 10, disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.

Justice Donatus Okorowo, in the judgement, ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as the Bayelsa State governor, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he won and was sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

Also, the Federal High Court, Owerri judicial division, in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023—PRP & Anor v. INEC, amongst others, equally ordered INEC to include the name of the PRP governorship candidate in the list of nominated candidates already published on the INEC website.