The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timipre Sylva, said the judiciary has vindicated itself with the Court of Appeal reversing the nullification of his candidacy.
Speaking on a live television programme monitored in Awka, Sylva said “I just feel relieved because it was confusing when that judgement came, but I feel very relieved today. I was confused, because for somebody who did not participate in an election—someone I hardly know even as a member of the party—to come and challenge my primaries and for a court to now hold that it was in order.
“It was really confusing because I do not think a judge will do that, but today, I think the judiciary has vindicated itself,”.
Recall Justice Binta Zubairu, who delivered the lead judgement held that Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court was wrong in ordering the sack of Sylva as a candidate of the APC in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State.
According to the court, the trial court erred in having assumed jurisdiction in the matter on grounds that the plaintiff at the Federal High Court lacked the necessary locus standi to initiate the suit in the first place, having not participated in the primary election that produced Sylva as the flag bearer of the APC in the forthcoming election.
The appellate court said the issue of jurisdiction is fundamental in an election matter, and since the lower court had no jurisdiction in the first place, all actions taken in the matter are declared nullity.
By this judgment, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would have to relist Sylva as the candidate of the APC for the governorship election in Bayelsa State.
