By Godfrey AKON
Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the inclusion of Chief Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Maciver Joshua, as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidates for the Bayelsa State governorship election.
The announcement which was contained in the second amended list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election, released on Monday, follows an order of the Court of Appeal which restored Sylva as the valid APC candidate for the November 11 poll.
The appellate court had, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, vacated the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which disqualified Sylva from participating in the election.
Recall that the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election was amended on 16 October, 2023 pursuant to the Order of the Federal High Court in Suit No-FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 challenging Sylva’s candidature.
“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 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 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,” INEC said.
The commission had, in the aftermath of the judgement of the appellate court, pledged to obey court judgement relating to the candidate of the, APC, Chief Timipre Sylva.