Disqualification: Appeal Court Hears Sylva’s Case October 27

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, has fixed October 27 to hear the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Sylva and his party, through Dr Ahmed Raji, SAN and Mr Akinlolou Kehinde, SAN, had approached the court to set aside the judgement of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which disqualified Sylva, from participating in the election.

When the case came up yesterday, parties in the appeal sorted out processes and the appeal was set down for October 27 for hearing.

Raji in the appeal had told the court to dismiss the judgement of Justice Donated Okorowo of the Federal High Court, which disqualified his client.

Apart from the notice of appeal, Sylva, through his lawyer, Dr Raji filed a stay of execution of the judgement.

Shortly after the appeal was filed, Dr Raji said the high court judgment is against settled principles of law and notable precedents. The chances of success at the appeal court are very high.

He said the appeal raises three fundamental issues touching on jurisdiction, locus standi and wrongful evaluation of affidavit evidence.

In a judgement delivered last week, Justice Okorowo disqualified the APC candidate on the ground that Sylva has been sworn-in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa state.

According to the court, standing for another election as governor would breach the 1999 Constitution as amended.

In the motion on notice, dated October 10, 2023, praying the court to stay execution of the judgement, Sylva, through his Counsel, prayed the court for an order of the court staying execution and/or further execution of the entire judgment and the orders contained in the Judgment of the Court, delivered on the 9th October, 2023, pending the hearing and final determination of the appeal lodged against the judgement and Orders of this Court before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

He also prayed the court for an injunction, restraining the respondents from implementing and/or giving effect to the Declaratory and Executory Orders contained in the Judgment.