Ogbomade Johnson, an aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Bayelsa State governorship election, has filed a lawsuit challenging the emergence of Timipre Sylva as the party’s candidate.

In the suit by her legal team headed by Hyginus Ibega, Mrs Johnson requested the court to issue a mandatory injunction compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the names of APC and Mr Sylva from the list of political parties and candidates for the November 11 election. 

She also sought a perpetual injunction restraining Mr Sylva from presenting himself as the APC’s candidate for Bayelsa polls.

Mrs Johnson argued that the APC was contractually obligated to conduct the primary election in Bayelsa in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the regulations and guidelines of the party. 

She claimed that the party had received N10 million from her and five other aspirants and, therefore, had a duty to follow the due process.

Furthermore, she sought a declaration from the court, stating that the APC had no valid candidate for the election due to the party’s violation of the Electoral Act, 2022 and its regulations and guidelines during the primary election conducted on April 14.

The aspirant pointed out that although Mr Sylva was declared the primary election winner with 52,061 votes, the election did not take place in all the wards as required by law.

In response, Mr Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum, filed a counter affidavit stating that he was qualified to contest the governorship election and had not been disqualified. 

He mentioned that he had previously served as the governor of Bayelsa State, with his first term being nullified by the Court of Appeal. 

However, he won the subsequent re-run election and completed a single term in office. Mr Sylva argued that his tenure should be counted from May 29, 2007, as determined by the Supreme Court.

In its counter affidavit, the APC requested the court dismiss the suit. 

The party asserted that the direct primary election was conducted in line with the party’s guidelines, the Electoral Act, and its constitution and that INEC had monitored the process. 

It also claimed that Mrs Johnson had failed to provide the list of her agents for the primary election and had not voted in her electoral ward.

The case has been scheduled for a hearing on July 6 before Justice Inyang Ekwo. 

In a separate development, another APC member, Demesuoyefa Kolomo, has filed a similar suit against Mr Sylva, seeking the removal of his name from the list of candidates for the November 11th governorship election.

(NAN)