The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released updated candidate lists for the governor’s races in Bayelsa and Imo.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates Timipre Sylva and Joshua Maciver were not included in the amended list for the Bayelsa election that the commission put online on Tuesday.
The list was signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the Secretary of the Commission.
The column with the names of the ruining APC candidate and his running mate was left empty and had the words “court order” placed on it.
The commission also listed Uchechukwu Ishiodu and Ahumbe Chiazor as candidates for governor of Imo’s state elections on behalf of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
In the revised paper, Oriaran-Anthony emphasized that the commission’s actions were in compliance with the lists of court orders that were served on it.
She noted that the commission, in accordance with Section 32 of the Electoral Act of 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election, issued the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9 of that year.
She claimed that following the aforementioned publication, the commission received a court order pertaining to the APC’s nomination of candidate for the governor of Bayelsa.
“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is bound to enforce the orders of court on nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.
“The Amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the orders of oourt served on the commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.
Also for Imo, Oriaran-Anthony also recalled that INEC published the final list of candidates for the state governorship election June 9 in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election.
“After the said publication, the Commission was served with an Order of Court for the inclusion of the PRP and its candidate on the list of candidates for the 2023 Imo State governorship election.
“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the commission is bound to enforce the orders of court on nomination of candidates by political parties in the State.
“The Amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Imo State Governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the Orders of Court served on the Commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Oct. 10, disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.
Justice Donatus Okorowo, in the judgment, ruled that 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.
The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he won and sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.
Also the Federal High Court, Owerri judicial division in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023 – PRP & Anor v. INEC, amongst others, equally ordered INEC to include the name of the PRP governorship candidate in the list of nominated candidates already published on the INEC website