Timipre Sylva, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been disqualified from contesting the Bayelsa governorship election.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that Sylva was disqualified by Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In a judgement delivered on Monday, Justice Okonkwo ruled that Sylva would breach the 1999 constitution if elected.
This is due to the former minister’s history of been sworn in twice previously and ruled for five years as governor of the state.
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The judge declared Sylva ineligible to contest the November election owing to the fact that if he wins and is sworn in, would spend more than eight years in office as governor.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 was filed on June 13, 2023 by Deme Kolomo, a member of the APC.
Citing the case of Marwa vs Nyako at the Supreme Court, Okorowo noted that the drafters of the country’s constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as governor more than twice and that the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva was voted into office two times.
He further stated that the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Marwa vs Nyako that nobody can expand the constitution or its scope. So, if Sylva is allowed to contest the next election, it means a person can contest as many times as he wishes.
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