Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timi Sylva, has been effectively shut out of the gubernatorial race in the state courtesy of the new directives issued today by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In the latest directive issued via a statement by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the commission will not recognize any party primaries conducted before April 15, 2011 when the federal High Court delivered the judgement that elongated the tenure of the governors of the five states affected by Friday’s Supreme Court ruling.
Sylva emerged candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the primaries conducted in January 2011.
The PDP has had another primaries after that.
Sylva did not take part in it.
Dickson Seriake emerged the winner of the primaries.
Sylva alleged the heavy military and police presence during the primaries was to intimidate him.
Sylva had, after the Supreme Court ruling on Friday issued a statement in which he said he remained the candidate of the PDP for the gubernatorial election to be conducted in the state.
Sylva, whose whereabouts has been unknown since Friday’s ruling, said in the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Doifie Ola: “What has happened is only a temporary setback. The implication of this judgment is that the January 2011 primary election which Sylva won as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) subsists.
“Sylva enjoins his supporters to remain calm, as they have always been, and not take the law into their hands. He thanks the people of Bayelsa State for the opportunity given him to serve.”
INEC had this evening said the gubernatorial election conducted last month in Kogi State, which produced the candidate of the PDP, Captain Idris Wada, will be upheld.
Jega directed that Wada should be sworn-in immediately.
The dates for election in the other states were also fixed.
For Adamawa State, it is February 4; Bayelsa State, February 11; Cross River State, February 25; and Sokoto State, February 18.
In the statement released after a meeting of the chairman and the national commissioners, Jega added: “The Commission wishes to categorically state that ONLY candidates who emerged after the Court of Appeal Judgement of Friday, April 15the, 2011 are the recognized candidates for the Elections.”
In Cross River State, Adammawa State and Sokoto State, the governors, who are seeking a second term in office all took part in primaries conducted after the April 15, 2011 judgement Jega referred to.
All the governors belong to the PDP.
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