Ahead of the Bayelsa State governorship election on November 11, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially added Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, to the final list of candidates.
This move follows a recent Appeal Court ruling that overturned Sylva’s initial disqualification.
This crucial development is in direct response to a recent Appeal Court ruling that effectively overturned the initial disqualification of Timipre Sylva, who is running as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, for the Bayelsa State governorship election scheduled for November 11, 2023.
The updated list, made official through an announcement by Channels Television, now confirms Timipre Sylva as the official gubernatorial candidate for the APC with Maciver Joshua pencilled as his running mate.
INEC’s decision to amend the candidate list is a direct result of the Appeal Court’s verdict and is made in strict compliance with the court’s orders, as well as the provisions of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). These changes are formally documented as Amendment No 2 to the list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election.
According to a statement by INEC, “It may be recalled that the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election was amended on 16th October 2023 pursuant to the Order of the Federal High Court in Suit No – FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 in respect of the nomination of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election.
“The Court of Appeal in a judgement delivered on 31st October 2023 in Appeal No – CA/ABJ/CV/1060/2023 set aside the judgement of the lower court cited above.
“By virtue of the provisions 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 list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election is hereby amended in Amendment No 2 pursuant to the judgement of the Court of Appeal.”
Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and a previous governor of Bayelsa, now stands as one of the contenders, facing off against 15 other candidates, including the incumbent governor, Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a significant turn of events, the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on October 10, disqualified Timipre Sylva from participating in the state’s gubernatorial election. Justice Okorowo’s ruling was based on the argument that Sylva, having served two terms as governor, would violate the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to run for the position again. Furthermore, it was deemed that Sylva’s potential victory and subsequent swearing-in would exceed the constitutionally mandated eight-year limit for a governor.
However, Timipre Sylva appealed the lower court’s decision, and the appellate court, in a recent ruling, overturned the earlier verdict, reinstating Sylva as a candidate for the November poll.
Timipre Sylva had previously served as Bayelsa’s governor from May 2007 to April 2008 and later from May 2008 to January 2012.