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Tag: Timipre Sylva

  • Bayelsa poll: INEC restores Sylva’s candidacy

    Bayelsa poll: INEC restores Sylva’s candidacy

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has re-amended its list of candidates for Bayelsa governorship election, restoring the names of Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), earlier removed by the commission.

    “The Amendment No 2: Amended list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa state governorship election pursuant to court orders” published on INEC website on Monday, was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

    Oriaran-Anthony explained that the release of the list “Amendment No 2” in which names of Sylva and his ruining mate, Joshua Maciver, were re-added was in obedience to the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

    Recall INEC had on Tuesday, Oct 24, uploaded an amendment list on its website with name of Sylva and his running mate removed in obedience to order of a Federal High Court.

    Oriaran-Anthony recalled that the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa Governorship Election was amended on Oct. 16.

    This according to her is pursuant to the Order of the Federal High Court in Suit No-FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 in respect of the nomination of the APC candidate.

    Oriaran-Anthony added that “the Court of Appeal in a judgement delivered on Oct. 31, 2023 in Appeal No-CA/ABJ/CV/1060/2023 set aside the judgement of the lower court cited above.

    “By virtue of the provisions 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.

    “The list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship election is hereby amended in Amendment No 2 pursuant to the judgement of the Court of Appeal,” Oriaran-Anthony said.

    With the amendment list no 2, the number of candidates for Bayelsa has being restored to 16.

    On Oct. 31, the Court of Appeal in Abuja set aside the October 9 judgment given by Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja nullifying the nomination of Sylva as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Bayelsa governorship election scheduled for Nov. 11.

    A Federal High Court had on Oct. 9  disqualified Sylva from the contest following a suit by a member of the APC in the state, Demesuoyefa Kolomo.

    Kolomo in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023, had asked the court to determine whether Sylva was qualified to contest in the election, having occupied the office of governor of Bayelsa from May 29, 2007, to April 15, 2008, and May 27, 2008 to Jan. 27, 2012.

    Ruling, Justice Donatus Okorowo held that allowing Sylva to contest again would breach the provisions of the 1999 constitution, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as a governor of the state.

    Justice in the judgment also said Sylva would spend more than eight years in office if allowed to participate in the election and eventually win.

    In a unanimous decision by a three-man panel on Tuesday, the appellate court held that the litigant who initiated the suit that led to Sylva’s disqualification lacked the locus standi to do so.

    The court, however, set aside the judgment of the high court and awarded a cost of N1 million against the respondent, Kolomo.

  • Bayelsa election: Appeal Court reserves judgement in Sylva, APC’s appeals

    Bayelsa election: Appeal Court reserves judgement in Sylva, APC’s appeals

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Friday, reserved judgment in the appeals filed by Mr Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate in the Nov. 11 governorship election in Bayelsa and the party.

    A three-member panel of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, made this known after counsel to the parties made their final submissions and adopted their written briefs.

    The appeals were against the Oct. 9 judgment delivered by Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court (FH’), Abuja, which disqualified Sylva as candidate in the election.

    A member of the APC, Demesuoyefa Kolomo, who described himself as a registered voter, had, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 filed on June 3, prayed the court to delete Sylva’s name from the list of candidates vying for the election, having taken an oath of office twice as governor.

    When the case was called, lawyer to Sylva, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, and counsel to the APC, K. O. Balogun, urged the court to allow the appeals, set aside the Oct. 9 judgment and affirm Sylva’s candidacy.

    Kehinde observed that Kolomo claimed the matter was a public interest action and that it was based on Sections 180 and 182 that the suit was filed.

    The senior lawyer, however, argued that in his first oath taking, Sylva only spend 6 months, three weeks and two days in office before the election was annuled.

    He wondered why the trial court would have given judgment in Kolomo’s favour, having not.participate in the primary election that produced Sylva as an aspirant in accordance with Section 285.

    He submitted that Koloma lacked locus (legal right) to institute the suit, hence, it ought to have been dismissed.

    “Section 285 strictly defines that you must be an aspirant to challenge an election and there is a timeframe within which to challenge the poll,” he said.

    “We urge this honourable court to look at our processes and agree with us that the judgment was an hatchet job just to tie this man (Sylva) not to campaign and participate in the election,” he said.

    He said presently Sylva’s name had been removed from INEC’s list of candidates for the poll, urging the court to allow their appeals.

    Balogun also argued that it was wrong for the trial court to have entertained the suit by Kolomo because he lacked the locus to approach the court.

    He faulted the decision of Justice Okorowo, to the effect that Sylva took oath of office twice as Governor of Bayelsa State.

    Balogun said: “In 2007 he (Sylva)  was elected the Governor of Bayelsa State, but within few months, the Court of Appeal (which was then the final court for governorship election petition) sacked him.

    “He contested again in 2008 and won. The eight months that he earlier spent in office was nullified,” he said, arguing that the FHC should not have agreed with Kolomo because those months were voided by the court.

    “What he (Kolomo) is doing is fighting a proxy war. He cannot be a member of the APC and be fighting to destroy its candidate and chances at the election.

    “What the 1st respondent (Kolomo) is asking this court to do is to deem the nullified months as 4 years,” Balogun said.

    Members of the court’s panel also wondered why Kolomo, who claimed to be a member of the APC, but not an aspirant, who participated in the party’s primary, would want to destroy his party’s chance in an election.

    They said instead, he would have voted for another party in the poll if he assumed Sylva did not deserve his vote.

    The panel also condemned attitude of counsel who failed to advice their clients appropriately on such issues, saying “it is a moral issue.”

    Balogun later informed the court that his client filed a motion to compel INEC to reverse its decision to remove Sylvia’s name from the list of candidates for the election.

    Justice Tsammani said since the court had chosen to hear the main appeals, it was unnecessary to hear any interlocutory motions.

    Lawyer to Kolomo, Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kanike, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

    INEC’s lawyer, Ahmed Mohamed, also prayed the court to dismiss both appeals.

    After taking all the arguments, the panel reserved judgment in the appeals at a later date to be communicated to parties.

  • What APC said about INEC delisting Sylva from Bayelsa guber

    What APC said about INEC delisting Sylva from Bayelsa guber

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says delisting its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva from the list of governorship candidates for Nov. 11 Bayelsa governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is premature.

    Mr Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary said this in a statement in Abuja.

    “The attention of the APC has been drawn to the updated list of gubernatorial candidates for the Nov. 11 governorship election in Bayelsa by INEC, which excluded our candidate’s name, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    “This action by INEC may not be unconnected with the High Court judgement of Oct. 9 which disqualified Chief Timipre Sylva as candidate of our party.

    “Our candidate and party promptly appealed that judgment and brought other processes seeking stay of the judgment’s execution.

    “Recognising the extreme urgency of the matter, the Court of Appeal granted an order of accelerated hearing of the matter now fixed for definite hearing on Friday Oct. 27,” Morka said.

    He added 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 clearly 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.

    He appealed to the people of Bayelsa, especially APC’s teeming members and supporters, to remain calm while the judicial process runs its full course.

    He expressed confidence that the party’s candidate would be victorious both at the Court of Appeal and at the poll.

    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.

  • Bayelsa election: Sylva’s lawyer writes INEC to withdraw amended candidates’ list

    Bayelsa election: Sylva’s lawyer writes INEC to withdraw amended candidates’ list

    Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding immediate withdrawal of the amended list of candidates released for the Bayelsa State governorship election.

    Raji, who is counsel to Chief Timipre Sylva, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 Bayelsa election, described the decision of the electoral umpire as prejudicial.

    INEC had, earlier today, released an amended list of candidates vying in the election without including Sylva’s name.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, had, on October 9 in a judgement, disqualified Sylva, a former Governor of the State, from contesting the election.

    Unsatisfied with the judgement, Sylva approached the Court of Appeal, through his lawyer, Raji, to challenge the decision of the court.

    But while the appeal is pending, INEC released a list of candidates for the poll excluding the APC candidate’s names.

    In a letter to the commission dated October 25, Raji said he had the firm instruction of Sylva to respectfully demand for the immediate withdrawal of the amended list.

    The senior lawyer said it was shocking for the INEC to release such a publication when the judgement the commission acted upon had already been appealed against at the Court of Appeal.

    “Dear sir, you will recall that the judgement in issue, that arose from the above suit was delivered on the 9th October, 2023 and our client, being an ardent and firm believer in the efficacy of the judiciary and the rule of law, immediately filed an appeal within 24 hours of the judgement, on the 10th October, 2023.

    “In addition to the notice of appeal, our client expeditiously compiled the record of appeal and transmitted the same in less than 10 days.

    “The appeal was successfully entered on the 18th October, 2023, with Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CS/1060/2023.

    “The above being the case, the commission, as a respected arbiter and law abiding institution, is expected to respectfully wait for the outcome of the appeal, before taking any step that may be prejudicial to any of the parties, particularly, our client.

    “This is in view of the fact that the parties that went to court are not candidates in the forthcoming election, unlike our client.

    “In other words, they do not have anything to lose, rather, they are fighting proxy battles to deny our client and his party the opportunity to participate in the forthcoming election.

    “We know that the Commission has always been consistent in a matter like this, to wait until the entire appellate process and proceedings are completed, one way or the other,” he said.

    According to him, this is not only consistent with the administrative and policy convenience but also with the Electoral Act and the constitution, in all election related matters.

    Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, has scheduled a hearing for Friday in the appeal filed by Slyva.

    Sylva and APC are, by their suits, praying the Court of Appeal to set aside the October 9 judgement by Justice Okorowo, voiding Sylva’s candidacy.

    Sylva, in his three-ground notice of appeal, is contending among others that the trial court erred in law and  occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice when it wrongly assumed jurisdiction by delving into the internal affairs of his party, which is a non-justiciable cause of action

    He stated that the trial court has a duty to understand the case presented by the parties and apply the law correctly.

    Sylva contended that the trial judge erred in law and occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice against him when he (the judge) wrongly conferred, allowed and adjudicated on the matter when the respondent (plaintiff at the trial court)  has no locus standi to initiate or institute the action.

    He argued that the plaintiff had agreed that he did not participate in the primary election that produced him as the governorship candidate of the APC.

    Sylva also argued that the trial court  breached his right to fair hearing as guaranteed by the Constitution when it failed to properly evaluate, determine and pronounce on his notice of preliminary objection, with which he  challenged the competence of the suit.

  • INEC removes Timipre Sylva from Bayelsa election

    INEC removes Timipre Sylva from Bayelsa election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released amended lists of candidates for Bayelsa and Imo governorship elections.

    According to the amended list uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday, the name of Timipre Sylva and his ruining mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were not included for Bayelsa election.

    The list was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, with the column for the names of APC candidate and his ruining mate were left blank with “court order” remarks on it.

    Also for Imo, the commission included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, for Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the state election.

    Oriaran-Anthony, in the amended document, explained that the action of the commission was in obedience to court orders on the lists, served on the commission.

    She recalled that the commission published the final list of candidates for 2023 BayelsaState Governorship Election on June 9 in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election.

    She said that after the said publication, the commission was served with an order of court in respect of the nomination of candidate of the APC for Bayelsa governorship election.

    “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.

    “The Amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the orders of oourt served on the commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.

    Also for Imo, Oriaran-Anthony also recalled that INEC published the final list of candidates for the state governorship election June 9 in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election.

    “After the said publication, the Commission was served with an Order of Court for the inclusion of the PRP and its candidate on the list of candidates for the 2023 Imo State governorship election.

    “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.

    “The Amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Imo State Governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the Orders of Court served on the Commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Oct. 10, disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo, in the judgment, 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.

    The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he won and sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

    Also the Federal High Court, Owerri judicial division in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023 – PRP & Anor v. INEC, amongst others, equally ordered INEC to include the name of the PRP governorship candidate in the list of nominated candidates already published on the INEC website.

    Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, has scheduled hearing for October 27 in the appeal filed by Sylva.

  • Amid uncertainty, APC to carry on with campaign launch in Bayelsa

    Amid uncertainty, APC to carry on with campaign launch in Bayelsa

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed it will carry on with the date to launch its campaign in Bayelsa State ahead of the November 11 governorship election set to hold in the State.

    This is amid uncertainty after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja disqualified governorship candidate of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva, from the election.

    While Sylva has filed an appeal against the judgement disqualifying him and also filed a stay of execution of the judgement, the APC says it plans to go ahead with the October 14 campaign launch in Bayelsa.

    The APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Morka stressed Sylva remained the party’s candidate for the election, in spite of the court ruling.

    “We wish to state categorically that Chief Timipre Sylva is and remains the Bayelsa Governorship Candidate of our great party in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election.

    “Our party and its candidate have duly instructed the legal team to appeal the said decision of the Federal High Court, diligently and expeditiously.

    “We urge our teeming members, supporters, and residents of Bayelsa to remain calm and await the outcome of the appeal, and we remain confident that we shall prevail,” he said.

    Morka said that with nothing to offer the Bayelsa electorate, after its poor performance as the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had since resorted to mercenary lawsuits.

    He added that the PDP had also resorted to underhand dealings and antics to distract and create confusion among the people of the state.

    He said all stakeholders, party members, supporters, and the general public were cordially invited to join the winning campaign.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a judgement delivered on Monday, disqualified Sylva from featuring in the November 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.

    Sylva candidacy: What APC National Chairman said on judgement

    Meanwhile, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, APC National Chairman, had said the APC also will appeal the court judgement passed against the candidacy of Sylva.

    Dr Ganduje, who disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents on Tuesday in Abuja, described the judgement as unfortunate, noting however that it was actually democracy in action.

    “Well, it’s unfortunate that judgement, but we can say that it is democracy in action.

    “But, we learned that the person who took the issue to the court is not even qualified, because he did not contest with Sylva.

    Therefore, he’s not even qualified for him to take the issue to the court. However, we are appealing. We’re waiting for the judgment and then we appeal for calm on that issue,’’ Ganduje said.

    TNG reports Sylva was Bovernor of Bayelsa between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ganduje, however, said that the judgement would not deter the party from its arrangement for the election coming up next month.

    He said, “Last two weeks, I was in Bayelsa for two good days and I think they were ready and they’re still ready to win the election.

    “Therefore, this is a little distraction anyway, but we will overcome it. We believe the appeal court will give us positive judgment but that will not stop us from making arrangement for the forthcoming election.”

  • BREAKING: Timipre Sylva runs to A’ Court to stay in Bayelsa guber race

    BREAKING: Timipre Sylva runs to A’ Court to stay in Bayelsa guber race

    Mr Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate in the forthcoming Nov. 11 Bayelsa governorship election, on Tuesday, filed an appeal against the judgment of a lower court disqualifying his candidacy.

    Sylva, in a notice of appeal filed by his lawyer, Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, prayed the court to set aside the judgment.

    Besides, the immediate-past Minister of Petroleum also filed a stay of execution of the judgment.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, in a judgment he delivered Monday night, disqualified the APC candidate from contesting in poll.

    Justice Okorowo had held that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 Constitution (as amended) if allowed to contest again.

    The judgment followed a suit filed by Mr Deme Kolomo, an APC member in Bayelsa, praying the court to order the Indeoendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delete Sylva’s name from list of candidates contesting the Nov. 11 governorship poll.

    Kolomo argued that having occupied the office of governor of Bayelsa May 29, 2007 to April 15, 2008 and May 27, 2008 to Jan. 27, 2012, Sylva was not eligible to contest.

    Raji, shortly after the appeal was filed, said the FHC judgment was against settled principles of law and notable precedents.

    “The chances of success at the Appeal Court are very high,” he assured.

    He said the appeal raised three fundamental issues touching on jurisdiction, locus standi and wrongful evaluation of affidavit evidence.

    In a motion on notice dated Oct. 10, Sylva prayed the court for “an order staying execution and/or further execution of the entire judgment and the orders contained in the judgment of the court, delivered on the 9th October, 2023, pending the hearing and final determination of the appeal lodged against the judgement and orders of this court before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.”

    He also prayed the court for an injunction, restraining the respondents from implementing and/or giving effect to the declaratory and executory orders contained in the judgment.

    Also in the appeal dated Oct. 10, the ex-minister raised three grounds of appeal.

    According to him, Justice Okorowo in his judgement wrongly assumed jurisdiction by delving into the internal affairs of his party, APC, which is a non-justiciable cause of action and thereby occasions a grave miscarriage of justice.

    He said the trial  court had a duty to understand the case presented by the parties and apply the law correctly.

    In ground two, the former governor said Justice Okorowo erred in law when he wrongly conferred, allowed and adjudicated on the matter when the respondent had no locus standi to initiate or institute the action, having confessed not to have participated in the primary election that produced him as the governorship candidate of the APC, thereby occasions a grave miscarriage of justice against him.

    He said the court failed to properly evaluate, determine and pronounce on his notice of preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit and thereby breached his right to fair hearing as guaranteed by the 1999 ‘Constitution.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

  • BREAKING: Court disqualifies Timipre Sylva from Bayelsa guber

    BREAKING: Court disqualifies Timipre Sylva from Bayelsa guber

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has disqualified Chief Timipre Sylva, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from contesting the November 11 governorship candidate in Bayelsa State.

    The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 was filed on June 13, 2023, by Deme Kolomo, a member of the APC.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as Governor of the State, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

    The Judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as Governor.

    Citing the case of Marwa vs Nyako at the Supreme Court, Okorowo noted that the drafters of the country’s constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as Governor more than two times and that the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva was voted into office two times.

    He further stated that the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Marwa vs Nyako that nobody can expand the constitution or its scope, stressing that if Sylva was allowed to contest the next election, a person could compete as many times as he wanted.

  • What Sylva said after clinching Bayelsa APC governorship ticket

    What Sylva said after clinching Bayelsa APC governorship ticket

    Chief Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Leader of the APC in Bayelsa, on Sunday expressed appreciation to the party’s faithful after emerging as its candidate in the just concluded governorship primaries.

    Sylva said: ”This is not a personal victory, it is a collective one. Our party has once again demonstrated what true democracy is, how elections should be – peaceful, credible and reflective of the people’s wishes.

    “I thank the other aspirants. As a party and as a people we owe them a debt of gratitude. I do not see their move as one of ambition, all I see, all that can be seen is true love and patriotism for our state and party.

    “I thank members of our great party who came out en masse to vote. I know the dream that spurred you on – a better Bayelsa, a more accountable state, a truly prosperous state and the original Glory of All Lands.”

    Sylva, who enlisted the support of other aspirants who contested along with him, stated that they would work together to achieve the collective aim of returning to winning ways in the state.

    “I will work with the other aspirants and party stakeholders and we will create the Bayelsa we all yearn for; we will make every Bayelsa person proud of our state.

    “Our brothers and sisters from other political divides must have watched how the APC elections went.

    “We demand the same decorum in the general elections. Bayelsa people deserve the right to freely exercise their franchise, they must have a stake in their own state,” Sylva said

    Sylva was declared winner of the APC primaries by Gen. Ahmed Jibrin, Chairman of the APC  Election Committee for Bayelsa, on Saturday.

    Sylva, a former Governor of Bayelsa, would be facing PDP’s Gov Douye Diri who emerged unopposed from the party’s primaries for a second term.

    The APC had in 2019 won Bayelsa governorship seat in a landslide, but the Supreme Court in a verdict on the eve of inauguration, annulled the victory over irregularities in the Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC.

  • BREAKING: Former Minister, Sylva wins APC guber ticket

    BREAKING: Former Minister, Sylva wins APC guber ticket

    Chief Timipre Sylva has been declared winner of the Bayelsa All Progressives Congress (APC)  governorship primary, held on Friday.

    The result of the primary was announced at the APC state Secretariat in Yenagoa by the Chairman of the election committee, retired Maj. Gen. A T. Jibrin rtd.

    Jibrin said Sylva secured 52,061 to defeat five other contestants.

    He said Joshua Machiver got 2,078, Festus Danumiebi, 557, Prof. Maureen Etebu, 1,277, Chief David Lyon, 1,584, and Mrs Isikima Johnson, 584 votes.

    The committee chairman thanked all stakeholders in the state for the peaceful conduct of the governorship primary election.

    In his acceptance speech, Sylva, a former minister, solicited the support of other contestants in order to secure victory for the APC.

    Represented by Sunny Goli, a member of the House of Representatives, Sylva said: “Lets us work together as family to win the Bayelsa governorship election on Nov. 11, 2023”.