INEC Finally Shuts Door On Ex-Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally shut the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, out of the February 11 governorship election in the state.

A statement by the INEC chairman in Abuja today said that only candidates who emerged as their parties candidates after the Court of Appeal judgment of Friday, April 15, 2011 would be eligible to stand for election.

Sylva is however currently in court, insisting he should be the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party having emerged as its candidate at the January 2011 governorship primaries.

The commission also directed that Capt Idris Wada be sworn in as the substantive governor of Kogi State.  This may end the uncertainty as to who should be the acting governor of the state.  Both Wada and Alhaji Abdullahi Bello have been laying claims to the office.

Last Friday, Sylva was one of five governors kicked out of office by the Supreme Court, which ruled that ruled that they had no legal mandate to remain in office beyond May 2011.