The names of Timipre Slyva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were excluded for the November 11 Bayelsa State Governorship election in the amended lists of candidates released on Tuesday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the list signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the names of Sylva and his running mate were omitted and replaced with “court order” remarks on it.
For Imo State, the commission presented Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as running mate for the People’s Salvation Party (RPP) for the governorship election.
Oriaran-Anthony explained in the redacted document that the commission’s action was in response to a court order on a list submitted to the commission.
She recalled that in accordance with Section 32 of the 2022 Electoral Act and the provisions of the Electoral Calendar and Program of Activities, the Commission on June 9 published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election.
According to her, after publication, the commission received a court order regarding the APC candidate for the Bayelsa 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.
Oriaran-Anthony, recalled that INEC had released the final list of candidates for Imo on June 9 in line with the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act 2022 and the program and schedule of activities.
“After the said publication, the Commission was served with an Order of Court for the inclusion of the PRP and its candidate on the list of candidates for the 2023 Imo 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 Imo State Governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the Orders of the Court served on the Commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.
It could be recalled that on October 10, the Federal High Court in Abuja barred Silva from contesting the state governorship election.
Justice Donatus Okorobo ruled that Silva, who was sworn in twice and served as Bayelsa governor for five years, would be violating the 1999 constitution if he was allowed to run again.
The judge also ruled that Silva is ineligible to run in the November election because he would have remained governor of the state for more than eight years if he had won and taken office.
Also, the Federal High Court, Owerri Judicial Branch Case No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023 – PRP & Anor v. INEC also directed INEC to include the names of the PRP gubernatorial candidates in the list of recommended candidates published on the INEC website.
ENDS
