Sylva Rejects INEC Position On Supreme Court Judgement

SAN FRANCISCO, January 30, (THEWILL) – Chief Timipre Sylva, one of the governors removed from office by the Supreme Court last Friday has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) position on Bayelsa State with regards to the governorship election.

INEC in a statement Monday said it would only recognize governorship candidates for the February 11, 2012 that emerged in party primaries conducted post the Court of Appeal ruling of April 15, 2011, which had earlier elongated the tenure of the 5 governors sacked by the Supreme Court.

A statement signed by Sylva’s spokesman, Mr. Doifie Ola reads:

The attention of Chief Timipre Sylva has been drawn to a statement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) saying that only candidates who emerged after the Court of Appeal judgement of 15 April 2011 are recognised for the Bayelsa State Governorship election fixed for 11 February 2012.

Sylva believes that under our laws, it is not the place of INEC to interpret any court judgement. More importantly, Sylva disagrees completely with this interpretation of the Supreme Court judgement. He does not regard the INEC position as final.

For him, the Supreme Court is better placed to resolve the matter of the proper candidate for the PDP in the Bayelsa State governorship election.

Only on Monday, the Supreme Court granted Sylva leave to validate his candidacy in the election, as his cross appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling and application for accelerated hearing received the apex court’s nod.

Sylva urges his supporters to remain confident and hopeful that at the end of the day, justice will be done.