With the Bayelsa State governorship election two weeks away, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Friday, reserved judgement on the appeal seeking to set aside the lower court ruling disqualifying the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timiprye Sylva, from the poll.
A member of the APC in the state, Demesuoyefa Kolomo had asked the court to determine whether Sylva was qualified to contest in the election, having occupied the office of governor of the state between 29th May and 16th April 2008 when his election was judicially annulled.
He contested the fresh election and was sworn in on 27th May 2008. But on 27th January 2012, his tenure was terminated by the Supreme Court.
However, in a judgement delivered by Justice Donatus Okorowo held that allowing Sylva to contest again would breach the provision of the 1999 constitution having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as a governor of the state.
The judge also said Sylva would spend more than eight years in office if allowed to participate in the election and eventually win.
Displeased with the judgment, Sylva, appealed, praying the court to quash the decision of the lower court.
Also, another appeal was filed by the APC against Kolomo. The party in appeal prayed the court to set aside the judgment of the lower court in the interest of justice.
The APC alleged that Kolomo was fighting a proxy war for the Peoples Democratic Party against its candidate.
