INEC’s Hasty Removal of Sylva’s Name from Guber List

Many Nigerians, especially the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were shocked when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the amended lists of candidates for the Bayelsa State governorship election with the names of the APC candidate, Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, conspicuously missing.

Recall that Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had recently 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.

Sylva and his party faulted the judgment and have since filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal to challenge the verdict. Depending on how the appeal goes, it would definitely end up at the Supreme Court.

But INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, explained that the removal of Sylva’s name was in obedience to court orders served on the commission.

 “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,” she said.

Many have faulted INEC for being in such a hurry to drop Sylva’s name from the list of candidates for the election. They further wonder what would happen if the Court of Appeal and perhaps the Supreme Court upturns the High Court’s decision.

Would it not be more convenient for Sylva to participate in the election and have his victory nullified by the court if he wins than INEC having to re-conduct the election when the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court rule in his favour for wrongfully excluding him?

Already the APC has kicked against the decision by the commission remove Sylva’s name from the list of candidates, saying that it is wrong.