…Clears Gov Uzodinma, Ododo, others
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Bayelsa governorship election, Timipre Sylva, from the final list of contestants for the November 11 off-cycle election
The electoral commission in its released amended final lists of candidates for the Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo governorship elections blamed Sylva’s exclusion from Bayelsa list on court order.
In the amended list uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday, the name of his ruining mate, Joshua Maciver was also excluded from the Bayelsa poll.
Signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the column for the names of APC candidate and his ruining mate were left blank with the remark of “court order”.
Interestingly, while Sylva was conspicuously missing, his counterparts in Imo and Kogi States, Governor Hope Uzodinma and Ahmed Usman Ododo respectfully made the list.
Oriaran-Anthony, in the amended document, explained that the action of the commission was in obedience to court orders on the lists, served on it.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 10, disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.
Justice Donatus Okorowo, in the judgment, ruled that Sylva having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa 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 won and sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.
Also the Federal High Court, Owerri judicial division in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023 – PRP & Anor v. INEC, amongst others, equally ordered INEC to include the name of the PRP governorship candidate in the list of nominated candidates already published on the INEC website.
She equally noted that the commission published the final list of candidates for 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 explained that after the publication, the commission was served an order of court in respect of the nomination of candidate of the APC for Bayelsa governorship election.
Oriaran-Anthony said: “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 court on 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,” she defended Sylva’s exclusion.
She also explained the clearing of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as his running mate, for Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the state election.
Defending it, Oriaran-Anthony recalled that INEC published the final list of candidates for the Imo state governorship election 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.
“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 court on 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 Court served on the Commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.