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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reinstated the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Timiprye Sylva.
Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja had disqualified Sylva from the November 11 poll.
An APC member in the state, Demesuoyefa Kolomo, had in a suit asked the court to determine whether Sylva was qualified to participate in the election, having occupied the office of governor of Bayelsa from May 29, 2007 to April 15, 2008, and May 27, 2008 to January 27, 2012.
A judgement delivered by Justice Donatus Okorowo held that allowing Sylva to contest again would breach the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as 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.
Dissatisfied with judgement, Sylva approached the Court of Appeal.
In a post on his X account on Tuesday, APC National Secretary, Sen Ajibola Basiru, confirmed that the Appeal Court has set aside the Federal High Court judgement and Sylva is now back in the race.
Details later……