The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed the name of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the amended list of candidates they released, News About Nigeria reports.
According to the amended lists of candidates for Bayelsa and Imo States governorship elections uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday, the names of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress were not included in the Bayelsa State election.
The column for the names of the APC candidate and his ruining mate was left blank with “court order” remarks on it.
The amended list was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, who explained that the action of the commission was in obedience to court orders on the lists.
According to her, the commission had 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.
However, after the publication, INEC was served with a court order with respect to the nomination of the APC candidate for the Bayelsa State governorship election.
The Secretary to the Commission further stated that, according to the law, INEC is bound to follow the court’s order concerning any candidate which is why the name of the APC Candidate and his running mate was removed.
“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.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on October 10, disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election because he has been sworn in twice as Governor of the state and has ruled for 5 years.
According to Justice Donatus Okorowo in his Judgement, 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 governor of the state.
