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INEC obeys court order, adds APC’s Sylva to list of Bayelsa guber candidates

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the name of Timipre Sylva to the list of candidates contesting the Bayelsa governorship election.

INEC had on June 9, published the final list of candidates contesting the off-cycle poll in Bayelsa, including Sylva, a former governor of the state.

But on October 10, the federal high court in Abuja disqualified Sylva, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa from participating in the election.

The court held that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution if allowed to contest again.

Obeying the court’s verdict, INEC removed Sylva’s name from the list of candidates contesting the Bayelsa governorship election.

But on October 31, a court of appeal in Abuja reversed the disqualification of the APC candidate.

The three-member panel of the appeal court in a unanimous judgement held that the trial court which nullified Sylva’s candidature lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by Demesuoyefa Kolomo, a member of the APC, who was not an aspirant in the primaries that produced Sylva as the party’s governorship candidate.

Consequently, in an amended list of candidates posted on the commission’s website on Monday, Sylvia’s name and that of Maciver Joshua, his deputy were added as candidates.

A statement accompanying the new list said the amendment was done in compliance with the appellate court’s judgement.

“It may be recalled that the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election was amended on 16th October, 2023 pursuant to the Order of the Federal High Court in Suit No- FHC/AB]/ CS/821/2023 in respect of the nomination of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election,” the statement reads.

“The Court of Appeal in a judgement delivered on 31 October 2023 in Appeal No -
CA/ABI/CV/1060/2023 set aside the judgement of the lower court cited above.

“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is bound to enforce the Orders of Court on nomination of candidates by political parties in the State.”

Politics

No sane person will go to tribunal over election results, says Melaye

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Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded Kogi governorship election, says no sane person will go to the tribunal over the results of an election.

Melaye spoke on Wednesday during a briefing with the media in Abuja.

The politician alleged that the judiciary has been compromised.

“Judiciary is no longer the last hope of the ordinary people,” he said.

“Why should any responsible person go to the tribunal? I have lost complete confidence in the judiciary.”

On November 12, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Usman Ododo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Kogi governorship election.

Ododo polled 446, 237 votes to defeat Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who came second with 259,052 votes.

Melaye of the PDP scored 46,362 votes.

During the poll, the PDP candidate had said there were problems in Ogori Magongo LGA and five LGAs in Kogi central.

“That was a huge disappointment because I thought INEC would use this opportunity to redeem its image,” he had said.

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Appeal court dismisses NNPP’s petition, affirms Kefas Agbu as Taraba governor

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The court of appeal in Abuja has affirmed Kefas Agbu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the duly elected governor of Taraba state.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Muhammad Yahaya and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for being defective.

Peter Affen, who delivered the lead judgment, faulted the appellants for transmitting an incomplete record of appeal which cannot be heard.

Agbu had polled 257,926 votes to defeat Yahaya who got 202,277 votes in the election.

Yahaya and his party challenged the result and asked the tribunal to nullify Agbu’s victory on the grounds that the election was marred by non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

They also alleged that Agbu did not get the majority of lawful votes cast.

However, the tribunal led by G.A Sunmonu held that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations.

The NNPP and its candidate went further to appeal the tribunal’s judgment.

However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.

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Politics

Appeal Court affirms Fubara as Rivers state governor, dismisses Tonye-Cole petition

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An Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State has affirmed the election of Siminalayi Fubara as the governor of Rivers State.

The court dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Patrick Tonye-Cole, against Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the courtroom on Tuesday, the APC candidate requested that the court order INEC to declare him the winner of the March governorship election in Rivers.

Cole’s case contesting Fubara’s election as governor was initially dismissed by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in October.

Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s judgment, the APC candidate approached the appellate court.

However, the court on Tuesday upheld the Tribunal ruling, which affirmed Fubara’s victory in October.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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