Mr Timipre Sylva, the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11 governorship election, has been disqualified by Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Sylva, who has been sworn in twice and served as governor of the state for five years, would violate the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to run again, according to Justice Okorowo.
The judge also ruled that Sylva was ineligible to run in the November election because, if elected, he would serve as governor of the state for more than eight years.
While quoting the Supreme Court case of Marwa versus Nyako, Justice Okorowo noted that the drafters of the country’s constitution declared that no governor should be elected more than twice, and that the parties to the complaint agreed that Sylva was elected twice.
He went on to say that the Supreme Court declared in the case of Marwa versus Nyako that no one may enlarge or limit the scope of the constitution. So, if Sylva is permitted to run in the next election, that means he can run as many times as he wants.
Mr Deme Kolomo, an APC member, filed the complaint on June 13, 2023.
