Sylva Dropped: INEC Revises List Of Candidates For Bayelsa Election

According to the recently updated list published on the INEC website on Tuesday, the name of Sylva’s running mate, Joshua Maciver, was likewise excluded…CONTINUE READING

In this revised list, which also featured the candidates for the Imo election, the column intended for the names of the APC candidate and his running mate was left vacant, with notations indicating “court order.”

The updated list bore the signature of the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Federal High Court in Abuja made a ruling on October 10, effectively disqualifying Sylva from participating in the Bayelsa state governorship election slated for November 11.

Justice Donatus Okorowo, in his verdict, based the disqualification on the grounds that Sylva, having been inaugurated twice and served for five years as governor of Bayelsa, would violate the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to run again, as this would inadvertently exceed the eight-year limit for holding office as governor of the state if he were to win the 2023 election.

Furthermore, for the state of Imo, INEC included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, representing the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

In an explanation regarding the necessity for the revised list, Oriaran-Anthony clarified that the commission had initially published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9, complying with the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election. However, it subsequently received a court order concerning the nomination of the APC candidate for the Bayelsa governorship election.

In adherence to Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is compelled to uphold the court’s orders regarding the nomination of candidates by political parties in the state. Thus, the amended list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election has been modified as per the court’s directives, Oriaran-Anthony stated.