The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reversed the disqualification of former minister of petroleum, Timipre Sylva, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had, on October 9, disqualified Sylva from contesting the November 11 election in Bayelsa state.
Delivering judgment, Donatus Okorowo, presiding judge, held that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution if allowed to contest again.
The judge held that Sylva was not qualified to run in the forthcoming poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.
Consequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also removed Sylva’s name from amended governorship candidates’ list.
Folarin Kehinde is an Abuja-based journalist with over 5 years of experience in journalism. His work has earned him national and international recognition across various beats, including environment, health and politics.
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