The name 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)
has released amended lists of candidates for the November 11 Kogi, Bayelsa and
Imo governorship elections on Tuesday evening.
The amended list which was
uploaded on the commission’s website was 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 “court order” remarks on
it.
Also for Imo, the commission
included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as governorship candidate and Ahumbe
Chiazor as the running mate, for 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 2023 BayelsaState 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 said that after the said
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 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 oourt served on the commission,” Oriaran-Anthony
said.
Also for Imo, Oriaran-Anthony
also recalled that INEC published the final list of candidates for the 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.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on
Oct. 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 was
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.
(NAN)
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