Appeal Court Clears APC’s Sylva For Bayelsa Governorship Election

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, has cleared the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipreye Sylva, to contest the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The appellate court, on Tuesday, said the respondent in the appeal before it, Deme Kolomo, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lacked the legal right to approach the court for an order to disqualify Sylva from the governorship race.

Sylva is the candidate of the APC) in the forthcoming election.

Recall that Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had on October 9, disqualified Sylva as candidate of APC in the election.

Justice Okorowo, in his judgement, held that Sylva having been sworn in twice as governor of Bayelsa State, was unfit for the 2023 race because if allowed to contest again and eventually win the election, he will be administered oath of office for the third time, which is against the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).