The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged its members and supporters in Bayelsa State to remain calm following the exclusion of its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, from the updated list of gubernatorial candidates for the November 11 governorship election released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the party disclosed this in a press statement issued on Wednesday.
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described INEC’s action as “premature” and “preempting the outcome of the valid appeal in the matter.”
Morka explained that Sylva was disqualified as the APC candidate by a High Court on October 9, but the party had promptly appealed the judgment and brought other processes seeking a stay of the judgment’s execution.
He also pointed out that the Court of Appeal had granted an order for an accelerated hearing of the matter, which is now fixed for a definite hearing on Friday, October 27.
Morka said INEC is a party in the matter and has been served with all relevant filings and orders, adding that the commission’s decision to delist Sylva in the circumstances flies in the face of its established practice of awaiting the decisions of appellate courts before taking action that may be prejudicial to the interest of the appellants.
He warned that removing Sylva from the list of governorship contestants in Bayelsa would foist a situation of helplessness on the appellate court, the Candidate and the Party should the appeal succeed.
The APC spokesman, therefore, urged INEC to withdraw its amendment under reference in the interest of fairness.
“In the meantime, we appeal to the good people of Bayelsa State, especially our teeming members and supporters, to remain calm while the judicial process runs its full course. We have confidence that our candidate will be victorious both at the Court of Appeal and at the polls,” the statement added.
