[UPDATE] Bayelsa Governorship elections: INEC releases amended candidates’ lists, removes APC’s Sylva

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released amended lists of candidates for Bayelsa and Imo governorship elections.

According to the amended list uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday, the names of Timipre Sylva and his ruining mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were not included for the Bayelsa election.

The list was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony,

The News Agency of Nigeria reports (NAN) reports that the column for the names of APC candidate and his ruining mate was left blank with “court order” remarks on it.

Also for Imo, the commission included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the 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 the 2023 Bayelsa State 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 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 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.

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 the court on the 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 the 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