In a significant turn of events, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published amended lists of governorship candidates in Bayelsa State for the upcoming election on November 11. This revised list notably excludes Timipre Sylva, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with his running mate, Joshua Maciver. The situation has generated anxiety among APC supporters and brought back memories of the 2019 governorship election in the state.
During the 2019 election, David Lyon, the APC candidate, was declared the winner, but his victory was subsequently annulled by the Supreme Court due to alleged forgery by his running mate. Lyon had sought to secure the APC ticket again in this election but was displaced by Sylva.
The amended list was released following a court order from the Federal High Court on October 10, disqualifying Sylva from participating in the election. The court held that Sylva, having served two terms as governor of Bayelsa state, would breach the constitution if allowed to contest again.
The APC's gubernatorial campaign council has responded to this development, urging its supporters not to be discouraged. They are confident in their "Renewed Hope for Bayelsa" agenda and are currently pursuing legal action to challenge the disqualification at the Court of Appeal.
While this exclusion has introduced a new layer of uncertainty into the Bayelsa governorship race, the political landscape remains dynamic and unpredictable.
