The All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that the removal of their governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, from the list of governorship candidates for the November 11 Bayelsa gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is premature, News About Nigeria reports.
This statement was made by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, in a statement in Abuja.
Morka explained that INEC’s decision to delist their candidate could preempt the outcome of a valid appeal in the matter. The party is currently in the Appeal Court for the same issue for which the High Court has already given a judgment.
“This action by INEC may be related to the High Court judgment of Oct. 9, which disqualified Chief Timipre Sylva as the candidate of our party.
“Our candidate and party promptly appealed that judgment and initiated other processes seeking a stay of the judgment’s execution. Recognizing the extreme urgency of the matter, the Court of Appeal granted an order for accelerated hearing of the matter, now scheduled for a definitive hearing on Friday, Oct. 27,” he added.
He further stated that removing Sylva’s name from the list of governorship contestants in Bayelsa would create a situation of helplessness in the appellate court, for the candidate and the party, should their appeal succeed.
He, therefore, urged INEC to withdraw its amended list of candidates in the state in the interest of fairness.
Morka also encouraged the people of Bayelsa state, especially members of the APC and their supporters, to remain calm while the judiciary carries out its responsibilities in this matter.
He expressed confidence that the APC’s candidate would emerge victorious at the Court of Appeal and also win the election scheduled for November 11, 2023.
News About Nigeria had previously reported that Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a judgment delivered on Oct. 9, disqualified Sylva from participating in the Nov. 11 governorship election.
In his judgment, Okorowo held that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and having ruled for five years as the governor of Bayelsa, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.
