A former Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva, has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified his candidacy as the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer in the November 11, governorship election to be held in Bayelsa State.
Mr. Sylva filed the appeal on Tuesday, October 10, barely hours after the news of the nullification of his candidacy broke out.
It could be recalled that the trial court presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo had, in a landmark judgement, on Monday night 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 of the state.
Citing the case of Marwa vs Nyako at the Supreme Court, Justice 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.
Appealing the case, however, Sylva faulted the judgment and urged the court to set it aside and uphold his nomination.
He also filed an application seeking a stay of the execution of the judgment pending the determination of his appeal.
