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Tag: bayelsa

  • Bayelsa guber: LP candidate urges INEC provide level playing ground

    Bayelsa guber: LP candidate urges INEC provide level playing ground

    The Labour Party (LP) candidate for the Bayelsa State governorship election, Udengs Eradiri, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a level playing ground for the November 11 polls.

    Udengs made the call during an interview with journalists shortly after a meeting with the State Traditional Rulers Council at their secretariat in Yenagoa. He was accompanied by his running mate, Commodore Benjamin Nathus (retd.), the state LP chairman, Eneyi Zidougha, and the campaign director, Ebipuado Sapere-Obi, among other party chieftains.

    He explained that they visited the monarchs to present his “People, Education, Agriculture and Power” (PEAP) agenda for the development of Bayelsa and seek their royal blessings ahead of the governorship polls.

    He said, “We have presented our PEAP agenda to the traditional rulers and explained it to them; they asked questions and we responded. We have asked for a level playing ground.

    “Just as we use this opportunity to call on INEC to ensure a level playing ground because a particular candidate in the election is boasting that they have bought over INEC, they have changed INEC officials; they are going to write results no matter what happens. But they will not write the results. They cannot, and it is a call to INEC. Why should INEC allow itself to be reduced to the table of buying and selling? They are boasting on the road.

    “One other group is saying they are going to spend N30billion. They are gathering Bayelsa State money. Our roads, schools, the employment of our children are what they are gathering to contest election against me. I’m not afraid because it is my money, they did not go and carry blocks anywhere to gather money to contest this election.

    “One other party has been involved in killings. Why should you have to shed the blood of Bayelsans because you want to lead them? What is there in Government House? A place where they have borrowed money and messed up the entire state, is where people are killing other people’s children, shedding the blood of old women and young people because you want to be a leader.”

    Udengs said he is an open book that the Bayelea people can assess, stressing that “I’m presenting myself because I cannot allow my generation to pass without waking up to challenge this incompetence in leadership. My hands are clean, I’m not afraid of anybody.”

     

  • Oil theft: Navy returns stolen crude-laden vessels to owners in Bayelsa

    Oil theft: Navy returns stolen crude-laden vessels to owners in Bayelsa

    The Nigerian Navy on Friday returned a merchant tanker vessel, MV TIS IV, and a  Barge Podium held for complicity in oil theft to their owners in compliance with a court judgement.

    The court had convicted the crew and ruled that the stolen crude be forfeited to the federal government while the vessels be returned to their owners.

    The impounded vessels were anchored at the Naval facility Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso in Brass, Bayelsa.

    MV TIS IV was seized for two years while the barge was in custody for six years after they were detained for allegedly engaging in crude oil theft

    The release of the vessels followed the directive of the Naval Headquarters, in compliance with the court decision.

    The handing over which was held at a brief ceremony at the FOB, Egwema, Brass, was performed by the Commanding Officer, Navy Captain Murtala Rogo, represented by the Executive Officer, FOB, Commander Dantani Bukar.

    Speaking on the circumstances that led to the detention of the vessels, Rogo recalled that MV TIS IV was taken in on Dec 5, 2021, at a creek within Akassa River, in Bayelsa while the Barge Podium was seized on May 15, 2017, around Alaki area of Rivers State.

    He said that the MV TIS IV had a total of 17 crew members on board and it was laden with about 700,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude.

    According to him, the vessel with her crew was handed over to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.

    He explained that the crew members were found guilty and sentenced by Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.

    “Ruling was also given by the court that the content of the vessel be forfeited to the federal government, which was evacuated by the EFCC on Feb 23 2023.

    “Furthermore, the court ordered that the vessels be released to the owners on bond. FOB Formoso was directed by the Naval Headquarters to hand over the vessel to the owner in the presence of the EFCC representatives,” he said.

    The Commander said FOB Formoso will continue to sustain the strategic directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, on the fight against oil theft and illegal bunkering in the maritime domain.

    He said that the Nigerian Navy is determined to ensure that the maritime domain remains secured and safe for all legitimate businesses to thrive towards fulfilment of national security objective.

  • Exploration impact: All rivers in Bayelsa are filled with crude – Sen Dickson [PHOTO]

    Exploration impact: All rivers in Bayelsa are filled with crude – Sen Dickson [PHOTO]

    …bags GICES award for excellence in environmental services to mankind

    Ex-Governor of Bayelsa and a serving Senator, Henry Seriake Dickson has said due to decades of oil exploration, all rivers in his home state are filled by crude.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports Dickson made this revelation after receiving an award by a coalition of environmental NGOs under the aegis of Global Initiative For Climate And Environmental Sustenance, GICES on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex.

    The former governor who is also the Chairman Senate Committee on Climate and Ecology had also bagged a similar award in the United Kingdom recently.

    As Governor of Bayelsa, he initiated a multi-pronged approach towards protecting and preserving the Bayelsa environment.

    He employed over 200 forest protection officers, that were recruited into the ministry of environment with the aim to monitor deforestation and stop the reckless fallen of trees in the state.

    His mission and vision to a higher level, towards tackling the issues of environmental terrorism and degradation caused by oil companies in the Niger Delta region.

    These developments were adequately captured in his citation at the event:

    During his tenure as governor
    he empaneled an International Commission on Oi Spills to assess environmental damages, determine responsibility, and develop a new legal framework for accountability and compensation These team of world leaders brought together by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson includes:

    The former President of Ghana, Emmanuel Kuffour, the Archbishop of York Dr. John Setanmu, as well as notable academicians to address the harrowing issues of environmental despoliation as well as related challenges in the oil industry.

    While inaugurating the commission in 2019 which also had other notable personalities like; Prof. Engobo Emeseh, Head of the School of Law, University of Bradford, Professor Anna Zolik, Dr. Anna Zalik, both of the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University, Dr. Catherine Nwajoku-Dahou, an international independent consultant.

    During the inauguration of this commission. His Excellency Senator Henry Seriake Dickson read out the commission’s mandate: which are that, the Commission on Oil Spills in Bayelsa State shall investigate the facts and current circumstances surrounding oil spills and their environmental human impact.

    To that end, the Commission shall:
    (a) establish the facts,
    (b) quantify the impact of oil spills,
    (c) determine responsibilities and, where possible, identify those responsible and,
    (d) make recommendations, including, in particular, on a suitable accountability framework.

    It is pertinent to note that the Archbishop of York chaired an independent Commission on the Future of the Living Wage.

    This flowed from his work as the sponsor of the fairness commission in York for the Commission on the Degradation of the Environment.

    The above are members of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) who on the completion of this assignment formally presented the final report of their investigation into the impact of oil exploration activities on Bayelsa state to the international community at the House of Lords, UK Parliament.

    Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first time a politician/seasoned administrator has led such a high-powered advocacy for the people of the Niger Delta region by using global best standards of diplomacy and strategic engagement.

    His vision for a healthy environment and just compensation for impacted communities has the potential to transform the lives of Bayelsa citizens, the people of the Niger Delta region and even the global impact on Ecology and Climate Change as this has set a precedent for the entire region.

    Distinguished Senator Henry Seriake Dickson’s dedication to environmental responsibility, social corporate responsibility, and enforcement of evaluation standards demonstrates his willingness to hold corporations and agencies accountable for their actions.

    His Excellency’s contribution to saving the environment and protecting the future of Bayelsa and the Niger Delta is an inspiring example of responsible governance and leadership. It is true that some prominent Niger Delta sons such as Ken Sarowiwa have led this struggle in the past.

    However, it is worthy of note that this is the first time a politician is leading this struggle.

    The difference is that though our fathers employed the use of activism, his Excellency Senator Seriake Dickson is deploying the wise tools of advocacy, engagements using superior reasoning strategies, interventions and intellectual engagements. Little wonder his new appointment as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology/Climate Change, in the tenth senate of the federal republic of Nigeria.

    Consequently, we as a Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations with core values on Environment, Ecology and Climate Change hereby confer on him “AN EXCELLENCE IN ENVIROMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARD 2023 “for his contributions and stewardship in sustaining a healthy environment while serving as Governor of Bayelsa State between 2012 and 2020.

  • 2020 reloading in Bayelsa as APC deputy gov candidate, MacIver risks disqualification

    2020 reloading in Bayelsa as APC deputy gov candidate, MacIver risks disqualification

    Barely four months to the Bayelsa State guber election slated for November 11, 2023, by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, strong indications have emerged that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Timpre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, risk disqualification.

    Recall that in 2020, the running mate of APC guber candidate was disqualified 24hours to inauguration.

    This was revealed on the heels of a suit filed against the defendants, Sylva, Maciver, and INEC, by the plaintiff, Incorporated Trustees of the Trustfield Empowerment Initiative at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    According to the plaintiff, Maciver has a jail term still running over a criminal offence, hence the party’s governorship candidate, Sylva does not have a valid running mate for the election.

    The plaintiff also queried INEC for allowing Maciver to become Sylva’s running mate knowing that Maciver is “serving a criminal jail term”.

    The plaintiff said, “The provisions of Sections 175(1), 182(1)(d) & (2)(c) and 187(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly stated that anybody having been convicted for a criminal offence with a sentence of imprisonment, without Presidential Pardon, is not eligible to be recognised or listed by INEC, which Maciver is affected by these provisions.

    “Due to term of imprisonment, Maciver should not be given recognition by INEC as the running mate of Sylva for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election is not at variance with the Constitution of the Federal of Nigeria, null and void ab initio?

    “On the heels of these, we are unequivocally stating here that in view of the conviction of Maciver for a sentence of imprisonment, he cannot be a running mate of Sylva who is contesting for the office of Governor of Bayelsa State in the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election, hence Sylva does not have a running mate as submitted to INEC.

    “We also declare that recognition and listing of Maciver who is under a sentence of imprisonment, without Presidential Pardon, as the Deputy Governorship candidate Sylva in the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election is illegal, unlawful, null and a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Therefore, we pray the Federal High Court, Abuja to give an order of perpetual injunction restraining the INEC from recognising MacIver and Sylva as not having a running mate for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election.”

    In July, a group, Coalition for Social Justice and Equity Initiative, released documents to an online medium, revealing that it had begun a process to approach the court over the alleged ineligibility of the APC deputy governorship candidate.

    According to the Coalition, Maciver was allegedly convicted by an honourable court and was sent to Kaduna State to serve his 10 years sentence for murder and terrorism. Maciver, according to the group, however, did not complete his sentence and escaped from prison by allegedly pretending to be sick and needing treatment.

    The group, through its Public Relations Officer, Ezra Areo, also claimed that despite being declared wanted by the Ministry of Interior and the decision of the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to offer Presidential Pardon to militants during the militancy days in the Niger Delta, Joshua Maciver refused to embrace the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), fearing that the programme was a ploy by the federal government to round him and others up.

  • We’ll win November 11 guber elections in Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa states – PDP boasts

    We’ll win November 11 guber elections in Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa states – PDP boasts

    The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), has boasted that it will win the November 11 governorship election in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States, going by the level of its acceptability by the people.

    The  acting National Chairman, PDP, Umar Damagum, said this in Abuja at the inauguration of the party’s National Campaign Council for the election in the three states.

    According to him, all members of the council must work within the law to win the three states, which he described as PDP strongholds.

    He said, “What’s expected of you is to go there and remind them that this isn’t what we bargained for, and that there’s a time God in his infinite mercy, always gives us to change the course of history, and this is the time.

    “We’ll have Bayelsa, we’ll have Imo and we’ll have Kogi. These are PDP states. Somehow, they slipped away but Bayelsa has always had a PDP governor.”

    Also speaking, Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke, who is also the chairman of the Kogi State campaign team, expressed confidence in the PDP’s ability to win the governorship election in the three states.

    According to Adeleke, the chances of the party in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi are ‘very great.’

  • Group urges Tinubu to compensate members with appointments

    Group urges Tinubu to compensate members with appointments

    The defunct Tinubu/Shettima Independent Campaign Council (ICC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has urged President Bola Tinubu to give its members priority in the appointment of people into federal positions.

    Speaking on behalf of the group during a press conference, the Director of Administration, Joseph Fafi, in yenagoa on Saturday said, they deserved to be compensated with appointments, having worked hard to deliver votes for the electoral victory of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima at the February 25 presidential polls in the state.

    Fafi stated that members of the APC grassroots campaign group “worry at the actions of some highly placed individuals both within and outside the state in recommending persons who contributed next to nothing for appointments.”

    He said in a title “We Delivered The Votes In Bayelsa State”, appealed to the president to avoid the mistakes made in the past by others who gave appointive positions to complete strangers instead of party members that toiled for the party’s success.

    “While we acknowledge the immense contributions of some individuals especially in Ogbia and Nembe Local Government Areas of the state, and even in those areas, the ICC played a major role in achieving those victories. There is no doubt that the ICC was the most visible campaign outfit reaching down to the grassroots in the state.

    “There are those whose sense of entitlement is only based on friendship to those at the corridors of power and not on effective participation.

    “We have seen in the past few days, persons and groups (and) even those who sat in their air-conditioned offices throughout the campaign period making unsubstantiated claims.

    “This action is taken in other to avoid the mistakes of the past, where people who are complete strangers to the party are appointed into offices and immediately turn their backs on the party.

    “It’s the party members that suffer at the end of the day. People delivered, that’s why we are here. Let them show their unit and ward results. For the avoidance of doubt, the activities of ICC in Bayelsa State are there in the internet for all to see.

    “Those we campaigned to in the creeks and villages are eagerly waiting for the fulfillment of promises that were made. We are therefore appealing to Mr. President to give priority to members of ICC in Bayelsa State in the ongoing recruitment process.”

     

  • Bayelsa: Aggrieved APC aspirant prays court to stop Sylva’s governorship bid

    Bayelsa: Aggrieved APC aspirant prays court to stop Sylva’s governorship bid

    Mrs Ogbomade Johnson, an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the Nov. 11 Bayelsa governorship election, has challenged the emergence of Mr Timipre Sylva as candidate of the party for the poll.

    Johnson made the prayer in a fresh suit filed by her team of lawyers led by Hyginus Ibega before Justice Inyang Ekwo,.

    She prayed the court for an order of mandatory injunction compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delist the names of APC and Sylva from among the list of political parties and candidates for the Nov. 11 poll.

    The aggrieved aspirant also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Sylva, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum, from parading himself as the APC’s governorship candidate in Bayelsa.

    She sought a declaration that the APC was duty-bound in contract to commence and conclude primary election in Bayelsa in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the regulations and guidelines of the political party, after having demanded and received the sum of 10 million from her, along with other five aspirants.

    Johnson further sought a declaration that by virtue of the conduct of the APC’s primary poll on April 14 in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the regulations and guidelines of the political party, the APC had no candidate to field for the poll, among other reliefs.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC had cleared Mrs Johnson, Sylva, Joshua Maciver, Festus Daumiebi, Mrs Maureen Ongoebi and David Lyon as aspirants in the April 14 primaries.

    In the primary election conducted in the 102 of the 105 wards of the eight local governments in the state, Sylva was said to have scored 52, 061 votes; Maciver scored 2, 078; Johnson scored 584; Daumiebi scored 557; Ongoebi scored 1, 277 and Lyon scored 1, 584 votes.

    But in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/575/2023 dated April 24 but filed April 27, Johnson sued APC, INEC and Sylva as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.

    She sought seven questions for determination.

    Johnson said whether having regard to the meaning and intendment of the provision of Section 1(2), 180(2)(a), 182(1)(b) of 1999 Constitution (as amended),” Sylva having being elected two times as governor of Bayelsa was qualified to participate in the APC’s primary election held on April 14, making three times to be elected into the office of governor of the state.

    She argued that on a dispassionate consideration of Article 12.8(1), Article 12.9 of the APC Constitution (as amended read together with the judgment of the High Court of Bayelsa delivered on Jan. 20, which nullified the wards, local government areas and state congresses elections held by the 1st defendant in Bayelsa, the nomination of the 3rd defendant as the candidate of the 1st defendant is not illegal and unconstitutional,” among others.

    In the affidavit Johnson deposed to, she said contrary to the party’s regulations and guidelines and in breach of the Electoral Act, 2022, the APC’s direct primary did not hold in all the wards in the state.

    “Shockingly on the 14th of April, 2223, the said election committee was not seen anywhere in the voting centres and ward headquarters where accreditation and voting were supposed to commence by 8am to 2pm in Bayelsa State.

    “No accreditation of voters took place, no voting and collation of votes occured in all the wards.

    “Major General A T. Jibrin (rtd.) who claimed to be the Election Committee Chairman only deceived me and all the teeming supporters to our respective ward headquarter without any primary election,” she alleged.

    She said after waiting till 5:30pm on the election day, she and her supporters staged a protest to the party’s state headquarters.

    She said she was surprised on April 15 while listening to a television news to hear that Sylva was declared the winner of the poll by the Jibrin-led committee.

    Johnson urged the court to grant her reliefs.

    But in a counter affidavit deposed to by Sylva, the ex-minister prayed the court to dismissed the suit.

    He said contrary to Johnson’s deposition, he was pre-eminently qualified to contest for election into the Office of Governor of Bayelsa and did not suffer from any disqualifying factor which barred him from contesting.

    “I contested as governor in the 2007 General Elections and I was declared the winner by the 2nd defendant and was subsequently sworn in as the executive governor of Bayelsa State on the 29th May, 2007.

    “After I was sworn in on 29th May, 2007, my election as governor was nullified by the Court of Appeal and the 2nd defendant (INEC) was ordered to conduct a re-run election. The said re-run was duly conducted and I won it and was sworn in as governor on the 27th May, 2008.

    “The matter went up to the Supreme Court and same was consolidated alongside that of the then Governors of Kogi, Sokoto, Cross River and Adamawa States as reported in Marwa v. Nyako (2012) 6 NWLR (Pt.1296).

    “The Supreme Court held that my tenure in office is to be counted from 29th May, 2007, when I was first sworn in and not 27th May, 2008.

    “Thus, upon the judgment of the Supreme Court, I vacated office having done a single term,” he said.

    Besides, Sylva averred that he vied for the APC primary alongside five others, including Johnson on April 14, and he emerged its candidate having polled the highest votes from the votes collated from 102 out of 105 wards in the eight local government areas where party members voted in a direct primary in accordance with the guidelines for poll, APC’s constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022.

    He said contrary to Johnson’s argument, the primary was held and the results in which he garnered the majority of the votes was accepted and he received congratulatory messages from major APC stakeholders in the state, indicative of the fact that his victory reflected the aspirations of the party members.

    He, however, said there was no election in Ward 6 in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA because the register of members was not submitted on time within INEC’s guidelines, and that election did not hold also in Wards 4 and 5 in Nembe LGA because there were disturbances.

    He said though the poll was initially scheduled for April 10, due to logistics challenge, it was shifted to April 14.

    He said after the poll was conducted, he said a special congress which ratified him as person who scored the highest number of votes was held on April 15 in Yenagoa and his name forwarded to INEC.

    On the judgment that nullified the party’s congress, Sylva said he was aware that the APC had filed an appeal against the Bayelsa court judgment in suit number: YHC/16/2022 between Alex Izibenikiebo Blankson v. APC and three others together with a motion for stay of execution containing in the notice of appeal.

    Also the APC, in its counter affidavit deposed to by Dr Stanley Ugboaja, the chief of staff to deputy national organising secretary, asked the court to dismissed the suit.

    The party argued that the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on Jan. 27, 2012, in respect of the consolidated appeal was actually in support of Sylva’s bid for a second term in office and not against it as falsely stated by Johnson.

    It said that the direct primary poll was conducted by its national body in accordance with the guidelines for the conduct of same as well as the provisions of the Electoral Act and its constitution.

    The APC, which averred that INEC monitored the poll also said that the electoral umpire issued a report in respect of the primaries.

    “An appeal against the result of the said primaries was lodged with the Appeals Committee of the ist defendant.

    “The Appeal Committee rejected the said appeal as unmeritorious. A copy of the report of the Appeal Committee is attached herewith and marked Exhibit F

    “That by a letter dated 13th April, 2023, the plaintiff was requested to provide the list of her agents in all the 105 electoral wards in Bayelsa State but she failed to comply.

    “She did not even bother to vote in her electoral ward. A copy of the said letter is attached herewith and marked G,” the party told the court.

    Justice Ekwo fixed July 6 for hearing of the suit.

    An APC member, Chief Demesuoyefa Kolomo, also filed a suit against Sylva before a sister court, praying the court to order INEC to delete Sylva’s name from list of candidates contesting the Nov. 11 governorship poll.

  • Just In: Ex-Governor of Bayelsa State is dead

    Just In: Ex-Governor of Bayelsa State is dead

    The former governor of Bayelsa state, Nestor Binabo, is dead.

    His death was announced by his son, Mr Binabo Momos. It was revealed the late politician died on Thursday in Abuja after a prolonged battle with an undisclosed illness.

    Binabo served as acting Governor of Bayelsa from January 2012, after Timipre Sylva was ousted by the Supreme Court.

    He also served as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

    Binabo was a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress before his death.

  • I’ll respond to suit challenging my emergence as APC candidate, Sylva tells court

    I’ll respond to suit challenging my emergence as APC candidate, Sylva tells court

    Mr. Timipre Sylva, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Nov. 11 governorship election in Bayelsa, on Monday, said he will respond to a suit seeking his disqualification at the appropriate time.

    Sylva, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum, told Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja through his lawyer, Adelani Ajibade, upon resumed hearing in the matter.

    Ajibade, who said that they received the originating summons on June 20, said they had 10 days within which to respond being a pre-election suit.

    “And we intend to do same within this time. Therefore, we will be  asking for an adjournment,” he said.

    Also APC’s counsel, Dr Denis Otiotio, said he would respond to the application.

    Otiotio informed the court that though his client was served on June 16, he said he was only briefed about the matter on Friday.

    “We still have up to today (Monday) to file our processes. We are working to ensure that we file our processes. So we shall be asking for an adjournment,” he said.

    According to reports, only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not represented in court.

    Justice Okorowo adjourned the matter until July 3 for hearing.

    Chief Demesuoyefa Kolomo, a member of the APC, had prayed the court to order INEC to delete the name of Sylva from list of candidates contesting the Nov. 11 governorship poll.

    Kolomo told Justice Okorowo in a suit filed by his lawyer, Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kannike, SAN.

    In the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 dated and filed June 13, Kolomo had sued Mr Sylva, APC and INEC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

    He sought two questions for determination.

    These include whether having regard to the indisputable facts that Sylva was elected to the office of governor of Bayeisa on two previous occasions; April 14, 2007 and May 24, 2008, he was qualified to contest the Nov. 11 election in view of Section 82 (1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    “Whether having regard to the indisputable fact that Sylva occupied the office of governor of Bayelsa from May 29, 2007 to April 15, 2008 and May 27, 2008 to Jan. 27, 2012, he is qualified to contest and be elected to the office of governor of Bayelsa for another four years term in view of Section 180(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    Kolomo, therefore, sought a declaration that by virtue of Section 182(1)\(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sylva was not qualified to contest the election to the office of the governor of Bayelsa on APC’s platform or on any other political party’s platform in the election scheduled for sometime in November or any other time for that matter.

    He also sought an order directing INEC to remove Sylva’s name from the list of the contestants into the office of the governor of Bayelsa on APC’s platform or any other political party’s platform in the Nov. 11 poll or any other time for that matter as he was not qualified to contest the said poll.

    In the affidavit attached, Kolomo deposed that besides being an APC member, he was also a registered voter in the state.

    He averred that the ex-minister was first elected to the office of governor, Bayelsa on April 14, 2007 and assumed the said office on May 29, 2007, and was in the said office until April 15, 2008 when his election on April 14, 2007, was set aside by the Court of Appeal and he was consequently removed from office.

    He said Sylva was reelected on May 24, 2008, and assumed office as governor on May 27, 2008 until January 27, 2012.

    He said INEC recently published the names of governorship candidates for the state, including Sylva’s name.

    The plaintiff said he was motivated by the need to vindicate Sections 180 (2)(a) and 182(1)b) of the1999 Constitution, the rule of law and to know the applicability of same as it relates to Sylva based on the above facts.

    Kolomo also averred that the question raised by the instant suit was a constitutional one and of grave importance to him as a voter and other voters in the sate so that they would not vote for someone who was not qualified to contest in the poll and had their votes wasted at the end of the day.

    Sylva served as Bayelsa governor on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s platform.

    The former minister had, in 2006, joined the PDP governorship primaries challenging ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who at that time, was vying for same position

    However, after Sylva emerged the PDP candidate, he went on to win the election in 2007 and succeeded Jonathan, who had also become the Vice President to late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    But Sylva’s opponent in the 2007 election, Ebitimi Amgbare of the defunct Action Congress (AC), challenged his victory.

    While the Bayelsa State Election Petitions Tribunal upheld Sylva’s election, Amgbare took the matter to the Appeal Court, Port Harcourt in Rivers which upturned the tribunal’s decision and nullified Sylva’s election on April 15, 2008.

    The five justices of the Court of Appeal 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 90 days as stated in the Electoral Act.

    When a new election was held on May 24, 2008, Sylva was again overwhelmingly elected with 588,204 out of about 598,000 votes and was sworn in.

    But on Jan. 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, won by Seriake Dickson.

    NAN

  • LP kicks against delay in conduct of LGA election in Bayelsa

    LP kicks against delay in conduct of LGA election in Bayelsa

    Labour Party has vowed to stage a  peaceful protest over Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa’s alleged outright refusal to conduct local government elections.

    The  Factional  National Chairman of the party Lamidi Apapa, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

    Apapa  urged the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC) to do the needful

    “If BYSIEC fails to issue a notice to commence the process of local government elections before month end, the party would resort to civil actions aimed at pressuring the governor to do the needful.

    “The civil action would be peaceful, but resolute, in our pursuit of electoral justice and democratic representation for the people of Bayelsa State,” he said.

    Apapa said that the governor would not deny the importance and significance of the grassroots to the development of a state, as local government areas were created to help establish, nurture sustain democracy and democratic political culture.

    He said that as such, LGAs needed to be given  powers to function effectively, to stabilise and strengthen the political system.

    He further said that the importance of local government in ensuring democratic representation for the people at the grassroots level could not be over-emphasized.

    “The people of Bayelsa State, particularly those at the grassroots deserve elected officials who can effectively advocate their needs and drive development initiatives.

    “We are concerned that funds intended for local governments in Bayelsa State are being withheld by the state government, instead of being allocated to democratically elected local government officials

    “We view the development as a deliberate neglect of the local area, contradicting the governor’s claims of pursuing a prosperous administration,” he said.

    According to Apapa, Labour Party strongly condemned the utilisation of civil servants to administer local government affairs describing it as an unconventional and backward approach.

    He said that the delay in conducting the  local council election may be driven by the governor’s political agenda, contrary to his earlier statements of prioritising the people’s development over political maneuvers.

    He said that the attention of the party had also been drawn to the slow progress of the ongoing case in Sagbama High Court, Yenagoa, aimed at compelling the governor to conduct elections.

    Apapa also expressed concerns about alleged potential interference with the judicial process.

    He, therefore, urged the governor to respect the independence of the judiciary, which played a crucial role in his assumption of office.