I was only elected once as Bayelsa governor, Sylva tells court
Timipre Sylva, the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa, says he was never elected as the state’s governor on two occasions.
Mr Sylva, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum, refuted the allegations that he was previously elected as Bayelsa governor on April 14, 2007, and May 24, 2008.
He told Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, in a counter affidavit he personally deposed to and filed by his lawyer, Adelani Ajibade.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the application was in reaction to the originating summons filed by Chief Demesuoyefa Kolomo, a member of the APC, praying the court to order INEC to delete Sylva’s name from list of candidates contesting the Nov. 11 governorship poll.
Mr Kolomo had asked the court to determine “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 for another four years term in view of Section 180(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
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Reacting in the counter affidavit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/821/23 dated and filed June 27, the ex-minister averred that except otherwise expressly stated, all the facts deposed to in the application were within his personal knowledge, information and belief.
Although Mr Sylva admitted he was a former governor of Bayelsa, he stressed that he had only been elected once as the state’s governor, insisting that there was no election in 2007.
“I have only occupied the Office of the Governor of Bayelsa State on one occasion.
“I was elected as the governor of Bayelsa State on 27rh May, 2008.
“Contrary to Paragraph 5 of the affidavit (attached to the originating summons), I know that by virtue of the Court of Appeal judgment referred to, that is now reported as Amgbare Vs. Sylva (2009) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1121), there was no election in Bayelsa State in 2007,” he said.
The former minister, therefore, said that he was within his constitutional and legal right to contest the governorship poll in November.
According to him, the provision of Sections 180 (2)(a) and 182 (1) (b) is not applicable to me in this circumstance and cannot validly and legally disqualify me from contesting election into the office of governor of Bayelsa State.
He said he was validly elected on April 15, defeating other five aspirants in a primary poll that was keenly contested and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
