Appeal Court Reinstate Sylva APC Governorship Candidate In Bayelsa

Post created on 9:43 am

A Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reversed the annulment judgement of Timipre Sylva, candidate of the All Progressive Congress, to fully participate in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The judgement given by the Appeal Court on Tuesday has said Justice Donatus Okorowo, of the Federal High Court ruling was wrong in sacking Sylva.

According to the judgment, Justice Binta Zubairu, the trial court erred by assuming jurisdiction in the matter on grounds that the plaintiff at the Federal High Court lacked the necessary locus standi to initiate the suit in the first place, having not participated in the primary election that produced Sylva as the flag bearer of the APC in the forthcoming election.

The court held that the issue of jurisdiction is fundamental in an election and since the lower court had no jurisdiction in the first place, all actions taken in the matter are therefore nullified.

INEC was therefore ordered to reenlist Sylva as the rightful candidate of the APC in Bayelsa State.

The judge also slammed a N1 million damage cost to be paid to Sylva.

[Daily Post/SA]