Bayelsa Poll: Federal High Court Disqualifies APC Governorship Candidate, Sylva

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has disqualified the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11 governorship election, Timipre Sylva.

Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled that Chief Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

This was sequel to the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 filed on June 13, 2023 by Deme Kolomo, a member of the APC seeking disqualification of Sylvia, who was Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in the administration of Muhammadu Buhari.

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.

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.