INEC restores Sylva on list of Bayelsa guber candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made further amendments to its list of candidates for the Bayelsa governorship election. The commission has reinstated the names of Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which were initially removed by the commission.

The latest amendment, titled “Amendment No 2: Amended list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa state governorship election pursuant to court orders,” was published on the INEC website. This update was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had previously overturned the judgment of Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 9. Justice Okorowo’s ruling had nullified Sylva’s nomination as the APC candidate for the Bayelsa governorship election scheduled for November 11.

This legal dispute emerged following a suit filed by a member of the APC in Bayelsa, Demesuoyefa Kolomo, which led to Sylva’s disqualification by the Federal High Court on October 9.

Oriaran-Anthony clarified that the release of “Amendment No 2,” in which Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, were reinstated, was in compliance with the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

On October 24, INEC had initially uploaded an amended list on its website with Sylva’s name and that of his running mate removed, in response to a Federal High Court order.

Oriaran-Anthony further noted that the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa Governorship Election was originally amended on October 16, in accordance with the order of the Federal High Court in Suit No-FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 concerning the APC candidate’s nomination.