BREAKING: INEC removes Timipre Sylva from Bayelsa gov candidates list

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published amended lists of candidates for the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa and Imo States. This revelation comes as a result of recent court orders affecting the eligibility of certain candidates.

In the case of Bayelsa State, the names of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), were notably absent from the candidate list. Instead, the list featured a blank column with the remark “court order.”

This amendment, confirmed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, was made in compliance with court orders, which INEC received subsequent to the initial publication of the candidate list on June 9. The court order specifically pertained to the nomination of the APC candidate for the Bayelsa State governorship election.

According to Oriaran-Anthony, “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.”

Similarly, in Imo State, the Commission included Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, representing the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the state election. This adjustment was also made in response to a court order received after the initial publication of the candidate list on June 9.

Oriaran-Anthony emphasized that INEC is legally obligated to enforce court orders on the nomination of candidates by political parties in the state, in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

The court orders that prompted these amendments have added a layer of complexity to the upcoming governorship elections in both Bayelsa and Imo States, generating considerable public interest and scrutiny.

Notably, Timipre Sylva, who had previously served as Bayelsa State governor, was disqualified by the Federal High Court in Abuja on the grounds that he had been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as the state’s governor, potentially violating the constitutional limit on terms in office.