INEC Cancels Sylva from Bayelsa gov candidates list

Independent National Electoral Commission has made public the updated lists of candidates for the governorship elections in Imo and Bayelsa states

The names of Timipre Sylva and Joshua Maciver, the running mate for the All Progressives Congress, were left off of the modified list that was posted on the commission’s website on Tuesday. This was in reference to the Bayelsa State election.

Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the Secretary to the Commission, signed the list.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, “court order” words were written in the space designated for the names of the APC candidate and his ruining partner.

The commission also listed Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate and Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the governorship candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party in Imo State.

In the revised document, Oriaran-Anthony clarified that the commission’s actions were carried out in compliance with court orders on the lists that were supplied to it.

She recalled that, in compliance with Section 32 of the Electoral Act of 2022, as well as the timeline and calendar of events for the election, the commission released the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9.

She claimed that the commission received a court order regarding the APC candidate’s candidacy for the Bayelsa State governorship following the publication.

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

Also for Imo State, Oriaran-Anthony also recalled that INEC published the final list of candidates for the state governorship election on June 9 in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election.

“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.

On October 10, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Sylva was not eligible to run for the state governorship.

In his ruling, Justice Donatus Okorowo concluded that allowing Sylva to run for office again would violate the 1999 Constitution as amended because she had been sworn in twice and held office for five years.

Additionally, the judge ruled that Sylva was ineligible to contest in the November election due to the fact that, should he win and be sworn in, he would hold the position of governor of the state for a period exceeding eight years.

In addition, the Federal High Court, Owerri judicial division, among other things, directed INEC to add the PRP governorship candidate’s name to the list of nominated candidates that has already been posted on the INEC website in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023 – PRP & Anor vs. INEC.

NAN