The Independent National Electoral Commission has revealed the reason behind the non-inclusion of APC governorship candidate’s name on the list.
The All Progressives Congress governorship flag bearer in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver’s names were not included in the candidate’s list for the November 11 poll.
INEC, on Tuesday, released the amended lists of candidates for the Bayelsa and Imo States governorship elections and uploaded the same on the commission’s website.
The list was also signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
The column for the names of the APC candidate and his running mate was left blank with “court order” remarks, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The Secretary, Oriaran-Anthony, in the amended document, explained that the commission’s action was in obedience to court orders on the lists served on the commission.
She stated that the commission published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9 following the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the timetable and schedule of activities for the election.
She added that the commission was served with a court order regarding the nomination of the APC candidate for the Bayelsa 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 the 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.
Recall that the Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 10, disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election as an aftermath of being sworn in twice and ruled for five years as the Bayelsa State governor which would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.
