Court of Appeal Rejects APC, Sylva’s Bid to Overturn Bayelsa Governorship Candidature Ban

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Timipre Sylva faced a major setback in their quest to contest the Bayelsa State governorship election as the Court of Appeal in Abuja struck down their motions to stay execution of the judgment nullifying their candidature.

Sylva had filed an appeal and stay of execution following a Federal High Court in Abuja’s ruling that barred him from running as the APC candidate due to having served two terms as governor. The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice William Daudu, unanimously rejected their motions, citing the constitution’s provision that restricts individuals from being voted in as governor more than twice.

Referencing the case of Marwa vs. Nyako at the Supreme Court, the Court emphasized that the constitution explicitly limits the number of times one can hold the position of governor. All parties involved in the case acknowledged that Sylva had previously held office twice.

The suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023, was initially filed on June 13, 2023, by Deme Kolomo, an APC member. In light of the court’s decision, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) excluded Sylva’s name and that of his running mate, Joshua Maciver, from the list of candidates for the November 11 election. The list, signed by the INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, left the column for the names of the APC candidate and running mate empty, accompanied by the note “Court order.”

This ruling has generated anxiety among APC supporters, with many drawing parallels to the party’s 2019 election victory, which was later annulled by the Supreme Court due to alleged forged documents submitted by their running mate, David Lyon. Now, four years later, Lyon had sought to secure the APC ticket but was edged out by Sylva. The court’s decision has thrown the Bayelsa governorship race into uncertainty, raising questions about the APC’s prospects in the upcoming election.