Bayelsa Poll: Timipre Sylva appeals against court ruling disqualifying him
By Emma Ogbuehi
Former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, has appealed the judgment by a Federal High Court, Abuja which voided his nomination as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11, governorship election in Bayelsa State.
In a notice of appeal filed on Tuesday, October 10, Sylva faulted the judgment by Justice Donatus Okorowo and urged the court to set it aside and uphold his nomination.
He also filed an application seeking a stay of the execution of the judgment pending the determination of his appeal.
TheNiche had earlier reported that Justice Okorowo, in the judgment given on Monday evening, disqualified Sylva on the grounds that he has been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa State.
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.
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Citing the case of Marwa vs Nyako at the Supreme Court, Okorowo noted that the drafters of the country’s constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as governor more than twice and that the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva was voted into office two times.
He further stated that the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Marwa vs Nyako that nobody can expand the constitution or its scope. So, if Sylva is allowed to contest the next election, it means a person can contest as many times as he wishes.
The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 was filed on June 13, 2023 by Deme Kolomo, a member of the APC.
The disqualification of Sylva adds to the crisis in the Bayelsa APC that has seen many key members of the party resigning their membership and joining the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).