The All Progressives Congress has described the delisting of its candidate, Timipre Sylva from the list of candidates for the Nov. 11 Bayelsa governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission as premature.
Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary said that INEC was a party in the matter and had been served with all relevant filings and orders regarding the matter.
He said that delisting APC’s candidate in the circumstances as INEC had done, was premature and could preempt the outcome of the valid appeal in the matter.
He said that removing the party’s candidate from the list of governorship contestants in Bayelsa would foist a situation of helplessness on the appellate court, the candidate and the party should the appeal succeed.
Morka urged INEC to withdraw its amendment under reference in the interest of fairness while
appealing to the people of Bayelsa, especially APC’s teeming members and supporters, to remain calm while the judicial process runs its full course.
Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a judgement delivered on Oct. 9, disqualified Sylva from featuring in the Nov. 11 governorship election.
Okorowo ruled that Sylva having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.