The Federal High Court, Abuja, has disqualified the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Bayelsa State governorship election scheduled for November 11, 2023, Chief Timipre Sylva.
The Court, in a judgement delivered by Justice Donatus Okorowo, hinged Sylva’s disqualification on the interpretation of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
It ruled that Timipre Sylva was ineligible to contest the election because he had previously been sworn-in as the Governor of Bayelsa state twice and served five years in that capacity.
Allowing him to contest again would, in the Court’s opinion, violate the Constitutional provision that prohibits an individual from serving as Governor for more than two terms.
Citing the precedent set by the Supreme Court in the case of Marwa vs Nyako, Justice Okorowo emphasized that the constitution’s drafters had unequivocally stated that no one should be elected as a Governor more than twice.
He further stressed that the Supreme Court had ruled in Marwa vs Nyako that the constitution’s provisions should not be expanded or manipulated.
SOURCE: Channels Tv
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