A suit seeking to stop Timipre Sylva from participating In the upcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State,has been thrown out.
The suit was dismissed by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mr. Sylva is a former Nigeria’s minister of Petroleum resources who is vying for the office of the governorship of Bayelsa state.
Background
The lawsuit had been filed against three key entities: the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Timipre Sylva himself.
The case questioned the validity of Sylva’s candidacy, alleging that the APC’s primary election that nominated him was conducted in violation of the party’s guidelines.
Additionally, the plaintiff raised concerns about Sylva having held the governorship office twice before.
The legal battle unfolded as the plaintiff, Hon. Isikima Ogbomade Johnson, sought to establish his claims.
However, key elements of his argument were challenged, particularly regarding the alleged irregularities in the primary election.
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Court’s Decision
In delivering judgment, Justice Ekwo dismissed the suit and outlined the court’s reasons for dismissing the case.
The primary factor was the lack of substantial evidence presented by the plaintiff to support the allegations against Timipre Sylva and the APC.
Justice Ekwo pointed out that INEC’s independent report had unequivocally confirmed the legality of the APC’s primary election, conducted in accordance with the law.
Furthermore, the court deemed the police reports presented by the plaintiff as lacking legitimacy.
These reports, which claimed the absence of a primary election within the APC, were considered to be beyond the legal mandate of the police.
The court also criticized the plaintiff for failing to adhere to established legal procedures and for introducing documents through unconventional channels.
A critical aspect contributing to the case’s dismissal was the untimely filing of the lawsuit.
The plaintiff had not submitted it within the prescribed 14-day period following the alleged incident, leading the court to treat it as an academic matter, an area where the court does not engage.
In conclusion, Justice Ekwo found the plaintiff’s case to be lacking the necessary legal evidence, resulting in the dismissal of the lawsuit due to a lack of merit.