The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored the candidacies of Timipre Sylva, the former Petroleum Minister and the gubernatorial candidate representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with his running mate, Joshua Maciver, for the governorship race in Bayelsa state.
This announcement was made in a statement released by the Commission on Monday evening.
This decision, according to INEC, aligns with the ruling from the Court of Appeal, which overturned the previous judgment rendered by Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that had previously invalidated Sylva’s nomination.
In a recent court ruling, a three-member panel of the appellate court determined that the Federal High Court in Abuja did not have the authority to hear and decide the case brought by Demesuoyefa Kolomo, an individual who identified as a registered voter and a member of the APC and had challenged Sylva’s nomination.
Nevertheless, the court concluded that Kolomo did not possess the legal standing (locus standi) to challenge Sylva’s candidacy as he had not participated as an aspirant in the APC’s gubernatorial primary.
Consequently, 16 political parties will be presenting candidates in the upcoming off-season election in the South-South state on Saturday.