Ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the name of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, to the final list of candidates for the poll.

INEC, in the new list published on its website, said the addition of Sylva’s name was in compliance with an Appeal Court judgement delivered on October 31, 2023 which reversed the sacking of Sylva’s candidacy for the poll.

In the new list Sylva’s name was penciled as APC governorship candidate whilst that of Maciver Joshua was written as his running mate.

With the amended list, INEC said, “It may be recalled that the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election was amended on 16th October, 2023 pursuant to the Order of the Federal High Court in Suit No – FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 in respect of the nomination of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election.

“The Court of Appeal in a judgement delivered on 31st October, 2023 in Appeal No – CA/ABJ/CV/1060/2023 set aside the judgement of the lower court cited above.

“By virtue of the provisions 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 list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election is hereby amended in the Amendment No 2 pursuant to the judgement of the Court of Appeal.”

Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and an ex-governor of Bayelsa, is running alongside 15 other contenders including the incumbent governor, Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On October 10, a Federal High Court in Abuja disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.

Justice Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and served five years as governor of the state, 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 wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

However, the ex-minister appealed the decision of the lower court and the appellate court ruled in his favour last Tuesday.

Sylva was first Bayelsa governor from May 2007 to April 2008 and later between May 2008 and January 2012.

Ahead of the November 11 governorship polls in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has presented the party’s flag to its candidates.

Those concerned include incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), and Ahmed Ododo (Kogi). They received the flags on Thursday from President Bola Tinubu who also doubles as the APC leader.

Addressing the candidates, the President urged them to ensure that the next governorship polls are free, fair, and credible.

Expressing optimism about APC’s chances at the off-cycle election, Tinubu said that the collective efforts of the party officials and supporters, coupled with the track records of the candidates, would see the party through.

Also in attendance at the event were the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello as well as other party chieftains.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded the name of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, from the final list of candidates ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The amended list which was uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

Sighted by Channels Television on Wednesday, the column for the names of the APC candidate and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, was left blank with “court order” remarks on it.

According to Oriaran-Anthony, the action of the commission was in obedience to court orders on the lists, served on the commission.

Recalling 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 after the publication, INEC was served with an order of court in respect of the nomination of candidate of the APC for the poll.

“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,” Oriaran-Anthony said.

“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.”

On October 10, the Federal High Court in Abuja disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.

Justice Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and served five years as governor of the state, 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 wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

But the APC in in Bayelsa State said it will appeal the Federal High Court judgment disqualifying Timipre Sylva, its candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.

The Director of Media and Publicity for the APC Bayelsa Governorship Campaign Council, Perry Tukuwei, argued that the suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in breach of the Electoral Act.