THE names of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were conspicuously missing as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released amended lists of candidates for the 11 November Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo governorship elections.
The amended list which was uploaded on the Commission’s website Tuesday was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, The column for the names of the APC candidate and his ruining mate was left blank with “court order” remarks on it.
Eighteen-Eleven Media recalls that Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court had on 10th October 2023 disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa State, Sylva, according to the court, 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 wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.
But the APC gubernatorial campaign council while reacting to the exclusion of its candidate, urged the party supporters not to be deterred.
Director of Media and Publicity, of the campaign council, Mr Perry Tukuwei, in a statement said the party’s lawyers were already on top of the situation to get victory at the Appeal Court.
He said: “The Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Campaign Council hereby urge our dear Bayelsans not to be deterred by recent happenings in the polity as we march towards the victory post at the 11 November governorship election.
“We are clearly miles ahead with a well thought out Renewed Hope for Bayelsa agenda as well as resounding successes recorded in campaign activities across communities culminating in the decision by people of the state to look the way of Chief Timipre Sylva and Joshua Maciver as the next Governor and Deputy Governor respectively.
“Our dear Bayelsans, do not fear. Do not be discouraged. We are on course with no distractions. Our lawyers are very well on top of the situation as we expect victory at the Court of Appeal. We will win.”
Meanwhile, in the Imo election, the Commission included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the state election.
Oriaran-Anthony, in the amended document, explained that the action of the Commission was in obedience to court orders on the lists, served on the Commission.
She recalled that the Commission published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on 9 June in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election. She said that after the publication, the Commission was served with an order of court in respect of the nomination of candidate of the APC for 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 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.
Also for Imo, Oriaran-Anthony recalled that INEC published the final list of candidates for the state governorship election on 9 June in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election.
Eighteen-Eleven Media