The amended list of candidates for the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State, released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), does not include the name of Chief Timipre Sylva, the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC). This decision came after Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled, approximately two weeks ago, to disqualify Sylva, a former governor of the state, from participating in the election.
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In response to this judgment, Sylva, through his legal representative, Dr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), decided to appeal the court’s decision. On October 25, a letter was sent to INEC by Dr. Raji, on behalf of Sylva, expressing dissatisfaction with the electoral commission’s actions, which Sylva deemed prejudicial.
Sylva expressed shock upon receiving the publication from INEC, given that the judgment relied upon by the commission had already been appealed at the Court of Appeal. In the letter, Dr. Raji stated, “We are the legal representatives of Chief Sylva Timipre, the appellant in the aforementioned appeal, and we have been instructed by him to write this letter to respectfully request the immediate withdrawal of the amended candidate list concerning Bayelsa State. We kindly urge the Commission to promptly retract and suspend Amendment No. 1 in relation to Bayelsa State and allow the due legal process to take its course.”
