APC Fumes as INEC delist their Bayelsa guber candidate

According to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the decision made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, off the list of governorship candidates for the election that will take place on November 11 in Bayelsa is premature.

This was said in a statement released in Abuja by Mr. Felix Morka, who serves as the National Publicity Secretary for the party.

The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been brought to the fact that the updated list of gubernatorial candidates for the governorship election on November 11 in Bayelsa that was compiled by INEC does not include the name of our candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva.

“It is possible that this action taken by INEC is tied in some way to the verdict handed down by the High Court on October 9, which banned Chief Timipre Sylva from running as a candidate for our party.

“Both our candidate and our party quickly filed an appeal of that judgement, in addition to bringing additional actions seeking a stay of the implementation of the judgement.

Morka stated that “recognising the extreme urgency of the matter, the Court of Appeal granted an order of accelerated hearing of the matter,” which is now scheduled for a definite hearing on Friday, October 27. “Recognising the extreme urgency of the matter,”

He went on to say that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was a party to the case and that it had been served with all necessary files and orders related the case.

He stated that delisting the APC’s candidate under the given conditions, as INEC had done, was manifestly premature and potentially foreshadow the decision of the legal appeal that was filed in the matter.

He stated that removing the party’s nominee from the list of governorship competitors in Bayelsa would place the appellate court, the candidate, and the party in a position of helplessness should the appeal be successful.

In the sake of maintaining a level playing field, Morka strongly suggested that INEC retract the amendment in question.

He urged the people of Bayelsa, particularly the numerous APC members and sympathisers, to maintain their composure as the legal process was allowed to play out to its conclusion.

He voiced his conviction that the party’s nominee would emerge triumphant not just at the polls but also at the Court of Appeal.

In a ruling that was handed down on October 9, 2018, Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja barred Sylva from participating in the governorship race that will take place on November 11.

Okorowo made the ruling that because Sylva had already been sworn in twice and had served as governor of Bayelsa for five years, he would be in violation of the constitution of 1999 if he were permitted to run for office again.