These, certainly are not the best of times for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva as his ambition to govern the state again has hit the rock.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deleted his name and that of his running mate, Joshua Maciver from the list of candidates for the forthcoming Bayelsa State gubernatorial election.
INEC on Tuesday, October 24th, 2023 released the amended lists of candidates for the Bayelsa and Imo States governorship elections which has now been uploaded on the commission’s website.
INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony in the amended document, said; “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 the court on the 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 court served on the commission.”
“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.”
Recall that Timipre Sylva was disqualified by the Federal High Court, Abuja on October 10, 2023 from participating in the state governorship election.
The court ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as the Bayelsa State governor, 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 state governor.