Bayelsa Guber : Court Dismisses Suit Against Sylva

By Garry Ochigbo

Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking disqualification of former Petroleum Resources Minister, Timipire Sylva from contesting the November governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The suit instituted against the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Sylvia was thrown out for want of merit.

In a judgment on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiff, Isikima Ogbomade Johnson failed to establish issues raised in the suit to warrant disqualification of Sylva from the governorship poll.

Among others, the Judge held that the plaintiff failed to establish the allegation that the APC did not conduct a lawful primary election that produced Sylva.

Justice Ekwo said from the uncontroverted independent report of INEC, it was clear beyond any doubt that a valid primary election was conducted by APC and monitored by the electoral umpire as required by law.

The Judge dismissed police reports tendered by the plaintiff which claimed that no primary election was conducted by APC.

Besides, Justice Ekwo held that most of the documents brought by the plaintiff were done through the back doors in disregard to the well known established procedures.

Also, the court rejected the suit because it was not instituted within 14 days the subject matter occurred, hence, it became an academic matter adding that since the court is not an academic institution, it would not dabble into such a matter.

The plaintiff had dragged APC, INEC and Sylvia before the Court praying for an order to disqualify Sylva from being allowed to participate in the coming November governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Edited By Grace Namiji