Bayelsa poll: Court dismisses APC aspirant’s suit seeking Sylva’s disqualification
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgement, held that the plaintiff, Mrs. Ogbomade Johnson, failed to prove the case upon the preponderance of evidence as required by law.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed a suit seeking disqualification of Mr. Timipre Sylva from contesting the Nov. 11 Bayelsa governorship poll.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgement, held that the plaintiff, Mrs. Ogbomade Johnson, failed to prove the case upon the preponderance of evidence as required by law.
“The case therefore fails for lacking in merit. Consequently, I make an order dismissing the case of the plaintiff for lacking in merit.
“This is the order of this court,” Justice Ekwo declared.
Supreme News reports that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/575/2023, was filed by Mrs. Johnson, an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the Bayelsa governorship election, against Sylva, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum.
Supreme News reports that Mrs. Johnson, in the suit dated April 24 but filed April 27, sued APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Sylva as the 1st to 3rd respondents, respectively.
She prayed the court for an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to delist the names of APC and Sylva from the list of political parties and candidates for the November election.
The aggrieved aspirant also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Sylva from parading himself as the APC’s governorship candidate in Bayelsa, among others.
She sought a declaration that the APC was duty-bound in contract to commence and conclude the primary election in Bayelsa in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the regulations and guidelines of the political party, after having demanded and received the sum of N10 million from her, along with the other five aspirants.
Johnson further sought a declaration that, by virtue of the conduct of the APC’s primary poll on April 14 in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the regulations and guidelines of the political party, the APC had no candidate to field for the poll, among other reliefs.