Timipre Sylva, APC Excluded As INEC Releases Final List Of Candidates For Bayelsa Governorship Poll

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, are conspicuously missing as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), released the amended final lists of candidates for the November 11 Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo governorship elections on Tuesday evening.

The amended list which was uploaded on the commission’s website was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

With the final lists of candidates for the November 11 governorship elections released, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is no longer going to participate in the election in Bayelsa State unless the court rules before the election date.

The column for the names of APC candidate and his running mate were left blank with “court order” remarks on it.

Oriaran-Anthony, in the amended document, explained that the action of the commission was in obedience to court orders on the lists, served on the commission.

She said that the commission had in June 9, 2023, published the final list of candidates for 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election.

Giving further explanation, Oriaran-Anthony, said that after the publication, the commission was served with an order of court in respect of the nomination of candidate of the APC for Bayelsa 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 court on 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 oourt served on the commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.

For Imo State, the commission included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, for Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the state election

Oriaran-Anthony, like Bayelsa explained that the commission had published the final list of candidates for the state governorship election 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 court on 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.

SaharaReporters had reported a Federal High Court sitting Abuja, on October 10, disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.

Justice Donatus Okorowo in the judgement had ruled that Sylva having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa 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.