The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the amended lists of candidates for the Bayelsa and Imo States governorship elections.

The amended lists, which were uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday, October 25, 2023, show that the names of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, have been excluded from the list for the Bayelsa State election.

The column for the names of the APC candidate and his running mate has been left blank with the remark “court order.”

For Imo State, the commission has included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as running mate for the Peoples Redemption Party.

INEC explained that the action was taken in obedience to court orders served on the commission.

The commission recalled that it published the final list of candidates for the Bayelsa State governorship election on June 9, 2023.

However, after the publication, it was served with an order of court in respect of the nomination of the APC candidate.

INEC said that by virtue of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), it is bound to enforce the orders of court on nomination of candidates by political parties.

“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is bound to enforce the orders of court on nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.

“The Amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the orders of oourt served on the commission,” the commission said.

The commission also recalled that it published the final list of candidates for the Imo State governorship election on June 9, 2023.

However, after the publication, it was served with an order of court for the inclusion of the PRP and its candidate on the list of candidates.

INEC said that it is bound to enforce the orders of court on nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.

Recall that the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on October 10, 2023, disqualified Sylva from participating in the Bayelsa State governorship election.

The court held that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The Federal High Court, Owerri judicial division, had also ordered INEC to include the name of the PRP governorship candidate in the list of nominated candidates for the Imo State governorship election.