By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
A member of the All Progressives Congress, Demesuoyefa Kolomo, has prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delete the name of Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum, from the list of candidates contesting the Nov. 11 governorship election in Bayelsa.
Kolomo made the appeal to Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja in a suit filed by his lawyer, Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kannike, SAN.
In the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 dated and filed June 13, Kolomo had sued Mr Sylva, APC and INEC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
He sought two questions for determination. Including ”whether having regard to the indisputable facts that Sylva was elected to the office of Governor of Bayelsa on two previous occasions; April 14, 2007, and May 24, 2008, he was qualified to contest the Nov. 11 election in view of Section 82 (1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Whether having regard to the indisputable fact that Sylva occupied the office of Governor of Bayelsa May 29, 2007, to April 15, 2008, and May 27, 2008, to Jan. 27, 2012, he is qualified to contest and be elected to the office of Governor of Bayelsa for another four years term in view of Section 180(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Kolomo, therefore, sought a declaration that by virtue of Section 182(1)\(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sylva was not qualified to contest the election to the office of the governor of Bayelsa on APC’s platform or on any other political party’s platform in the election scheduled for sometime in November or any other time for that matter.
He also sought an order directing INEC to remove Sylva’s name from the list of the contestants for the office of the Governor of Bayelsa on APC’s platform or any other political party’s platform in the Nov. 11 poll or any other time for that matter as he was not qualified to contest the said poll.
In the affidavit attached, Kolomo deposed that besides being an APC member, he was also a registered voter in the state.
He averred that the ex-minister was first elected to the office of governor, Bayelsa on April 14, 2007, and assumed the said office on May 29, 2007, and was in the said office until April 15, 2008, when his election on April 14, 2007, was set aside by the Court of Appeal and he was consequently removed from office.
He said Sylva was reelected on May 24, 2008, and assumed office as governor on May 27, 2008, until January 27, 2012.
He said INEC recently published the names of governorship candidates for the state, including Sylva’s name.
The plaintiff said he was motivated by the need to vindicate Sections 180 (2)(a) and 182(1)b) of the 1999 Constitution, the rule of law and to know the applicability of the same as it relates to Sylva based on the above facts.
Kolomo also averred that the question raised by the instant suit was a constitutional one and of grave importance to him as a voter and other voters in the state so that they would not vote for someone who was not qualified to contest in the poll and had their votes wasted at the end of the day.
When the matter came up for mention, Amuda-Kannike informed the court that APC and INEC had been served while the bailiff was unable to serve Sylva.
“We, therefore, filed a motion for substituted service,” the lawyer said.
He said the motion, dated June 19 and filed on the same date, was brought pursuant to Order 6, Rule 5 of the court.
Justice Okorowo, who granted the application, adjourned the matter until June 26 for hearing.
