Bayelsa Poll: PDP Moves To Stop Sylva, Runs To High Court

An on-going plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Timipre Sylva, from contesting the December 5 governorship election has been uncovered.



According to This Day, the PDP and its governorship candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson are making moves to stop Sylva from contesting the election on grounds that he had been elected twice and no longer eligible to be governor.

The ruling party in the state have also approached the Federal High Court to institute legal actions against Sylva, seeking his disqualification.




                       



READ ALSO: Sylva Accuses PDP Of Perpetuating Violence

In the suit No CV/70/15, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson & ANOR Vs Chief Timipre Sylva & Ors obtained on Friday, November 6, the plaintiffs (PDP) are seeking the court to determine whether Sylva, the candidate is qualified to contest as a candidate in the light of the provisions of Section 182 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

The PDP noted that Section 182 (1) (b) states that no person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a state if “he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections.”

READ ALSO: Crisis Brews As APC’s Timi Frank Alleges Threat To His Life



As a candidate of the PDP, Sylva won the Bayelsan gubernatorial election on May 29, 2007 and succeeded Goodluck Jonathan who went on to the position of Vice President.

However, Sylva’s opponent in the election, Ebitimi Amgbare of now the defunct Action Congress, legally challenged his victory. Although the Bayelsa State Election Petitions Tribunal upheld Sylva’s election, Amgbare took the matter to the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt which overturned the Tribunal’s decision and nullified Sylva’s election on April 15, 2008.

The Appeal Court’s five justices were unanimous in their decision and ordered that Speaker Werinipre Seibarugo be sworn in to replace Sylva as acting Governor, with a new election to be held within three months.

A new election was however conducted on May 24, 2008, and Sylva, again running as the PDP candidate, was overpoweringly elected with 588,204 out of about 598,000 votes.

He was sworn in again on May 27. However, on January 27, 2012, his tenure was terminated by the Supreme Court with an acting governor appointed to oversee the state until the election of February 2012.