The Independent National Electoral Commission has made changes to the lists of candidates for Bayelsa and Imo States ahead of the governorship elections coming up in November.
According to the updated list published on the commission’s website, the names of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress have been removed for the Bayelsa State election.
The list was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony,
The column for the names of the APC candidate and his ruining mate was left blank with “court order” remarks on it.
DAILY GIST recalls that the Federal High Court, Abuja, had disqualified the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, from contesting the November 11 guber election in Bayelsa state.
The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 was filed on June 13, 2023, by Deme Kolomo, a member of the APC.
Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, 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 wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor.
Also for Imo State, the commission included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, for the Peoples Redemption Party for the state election.
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 recalled that the commission published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on 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.
She said that after the publication, the commission was served with a court order in respect of the nomination of the APC candidate for the Bayelsa 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 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,” Oriaran-Anthony said.
