INEC Removes Sylva from Bayelsa Governor Candidates List Following Court Orders
By Matthew Eloyi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released revised lists of candidates for the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa and Imo States. Notably, the names of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were omitted from the Bayelsa State election candidates’ list, as reported on the commission’s website on Tuesday.
The amended list, signed by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, conspicuously displayed a blank space where the names of the APC candidate and his running mate should be, accompanied by the notation “court order.”
In addition, for the Imo State election, the commission included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, representing the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
In the amended documents, Oriaran-Anthony clarified that INEC’s actions were in strict compliance with court orders served on the commission. She recalled that INEC initially published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9 in accordance with the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the electoral timetable.
She noted that subsequent to this publication, the commission received a court order related to the APC candidate’s nomination for the Bayelsa State governorship election. Citing Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Oriaran-Anthony emphasized that INEC was obliged to adhere to court orders concerning candidates’ nominations by political parties.
Accordingly, the list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election was revised in compliance with the court’s orders.
Read Also: Bayelsa Governorship Poll: Court disqualifies Sylva
Similarly, in the case of the Imo State governorship election, Oriaran-Anthony recalled that INEC had previously published the final list of candidates on June 9, adhering to the Electoral Act, 2022, and the election schedule. Subsequently, the commission received a court order for the inclusion of the PRP and its candidate in the list.
Once again, INEC complied with the court’s orders and revised the list of candidates for the 2023 Imo State Governorship Election.
It’s worth noting that the Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled on October 10, disqualifying Sylva from participating in the Bayelsa governorship election. Justice Donatus Okorowo’s judgment stated that Sylva, who had already served two terms and ruled for five years as the Bayelsa State governor, would violate the 1999 constitution if allowed to contest again.
The judge declared that Sylva was ineligible to run in the November election, as he would exceed the constitutional limit of eight years in office as the state’s governor.
Furthermore, the Federal High Court in Owerri, as part of Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023 – PRP & Anor v. INEC, also ordered INEC to include the name of the PRP governorship candidate in the previously published list of nominated candidates on the INEC website.
