Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has disqualified Timipre Sylva, the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11 governorship election.
Sylva, who has been sworn in twice and served five years as governor, would breach the 1999 constitution if allowed to contest again. The judge also declared 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 of the state.
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.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) plans to challenge the disqualification of Sylva from the November 11 poll. The party claims that the suit was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed 14 days and that the Supreme Court directed all pre-election matters to be heard in Bayelsa, where party primaries were held.
