The Federal High Court, Abuja, has disqualified the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, from contesting the November 11 guber election in Bayelsa state.
Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.
The judge also held that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor.
The case of Marwa vs Nyako at the Supreme Court was cited. Okorowo noted that the drafters of the country’s constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as governor more than two times and that the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva was voted into office two times.
It is yet to be seen if the former minister of state for petroleum will appeal the judgment.
