Bayelsa Guber Poll: APC elders reject judgement disqualifying Sylva

The Bayelsa State Elders Forum disagrees with the Federal High Court’s decision to disqualify All Progressives Congress governor candidate Timipre Sylva from running in the upcoming election on November 11.

According to a statement released in Yenagoa and signed by the group’s chairman, Chief Michael Adomokeme, the elders believe that the presiding judge made an error in point of law when he ruled that Sylva was ineligible to run for governor on his party’s ticket because he had already taken the oath of office as governor twice.

Adomekeme stated, “In as much as we respect the court as the bastion of hope in our democracy, we are compelled to point out that our gubernatorial candidate had only taken one oath of office known to the law, as the first one referred to by the judge had been nullified by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Yes, we all remember that in 2007, the court overturned Sylva’s first term election and, by extension, his oath of office as governor. After the original vote was pronounced invalid, extra vires, and without effect, a new election was held in 2008, which he also won.

Because the court had declared the initial vote invalid and the oath of office null and void, neither the election nor the oath of office had any legal standing. Because you can’t construct something out of nothing, the first oath never happened. Our candidate has taken no further oaths, and the pledge he took in 2008 is the only one that counts legally.

Adomekeme claimed that judges were still fallible humans, and that the existence of the judicial hierarchy was due to the realization that judges could err in their rulings.

He expressed confidence that the court of appeal will rule fairly on the case. We applaud our legal team for moving quickly to appeal the verdict and seek a stay of execution of the verdict, which we consider to be a miscarriage of justice.

We have faith that the court will not allow a replay of the 2019 situation, in which an unpopular candidate was imposed on the people against their choice.

Since a situation that has been declared invalid by a court remains invalidated, considered dead, and has no impact or application going forward, Sylva is within her legal rights to challenge this election. Voters in Bayelsa should be able to cast ballots for the candidates of their choosing without having their ballots manipulated in any way.

Adomekeme called the development a “temporary setback,” and urged the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate Governor Douye, whom they described as the key sponsors of the litigation, to quit hoping the courts would allow them to remain in power and instead start preparing for the election.

We’re aware of their worries, and they’re slyly looking for legal representation. Because it cannot be supported, this attempt has failed. They urged Governor Douye Diri to accept his electoral setback, saying, “The will of the people must stand.”

He advised the thronging APC members, inhabitants of Bayelsa, and other stakeholders to not be disheartened by the judgement.

Don’t let this depress you. There will be no repeat of the 2019 scenario. Knowing that his initial ruling will be overturned on appeal, their main goal was to dampen your enthusiasm. We urge you to keep your resolve and your unity because a brighter future for Bayelsa is on the horizon.