Sylva and his running mate had earlier been removed by INEC in obedience to the order of a Federal High Court
By Kehinde Okeowo
Barely a few days to the November 11 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored the name of Timipre Sylva, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which was earlier removed following a court order.
The electoral umpire in a new list published on its website, added the name of the former governor following the recent ruling by an Appeal Court on the matter.
This development was contained in a document signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony on Monday, November 6.
Oriaran-Anthony in the statement explained that the release of the list “Amendment No 2” in which the names of Sylva and his ruining mate, Joshua Maciver, were re-added, was in obedience to the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
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Prior to this, INEC had on Tuesday, October 24, uploaded an amendment list on its website and omitted the names of Sylva and his running mate in obedience to order of a Federal High Court.
Oriaran-Anthony recalled that the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa Governorship Election was amended on October 16.
This, according to her, was in pursuant to the Order of the Federal High Court in Suit No-FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 in respect of the nomination of the APC candidate.
Oriaran-Anthony added that “The Court of Appeal, in a judgement delivered on October 31, 2023, in appeal No-CA/ABJ/CV/1060/2023 set aside the judgement of the lower court cited above”.
Sylva and the incumbent governor, Douye Diri are the main contenders in the stand-alone gubernatorial election coming up in Bayelsa State on Saturday.