With less than three weeks to the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, amended the nomination list and removed the name of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timpre Sylva, and his running mate from the list of candidates contesting the election.
Recall that Sylva was sacked about two weeks ago by an Abuja High Court, on the ground that he had been sworn in twice, and had already spent five years in office as governor.
The court also held that should he win the November 11 governorship, Sylva would serve more than eight years as governor, contrary to the constitution.
The APC candidate, however, said he had appealed against the judgement.
But in a statement on Tuesday by the Secretary to the Commission Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC said it has been serving with the court order in respect of the nomination of the APC for the 2023 Bayelsa governorship.
The statement further added that “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 order of the court.
“The amended list of candidates of the 2023 Bayelsa governorship election is hereby amended in pursuit of the order of court served on the commission.”
INEC also included the candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and his deputy, for the Imo State governorship, based on the order of court.
