Less than 12 days to the governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, has reversed the nullification of the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva.
The appellate court, in a judgment delivered on Tuesday, held that Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court was wrong in ordering the sack of Sylva as a candidate of the APC in the November 11, governorship election in Bayelsa State.
According to the judgment, the trial court erred to have assumed jurisdiction in the matter on grounds that the plaintiff at the Federal High Court lacked the necessary locus standi to initiate the suit in the first place, having not participated in the primary election that produced Sylva as flag bearer of the APC in the forthcoming election.
The appellate court stressed that the issue of jurisdiction is fundamental in an election matter, and since the lower court had no jurisdiction in the first place, all actions taken in the matter is declared a nullity.
The appellate court in addition stated that once a judgment is found to have been delivered without jurisdiction, “no matter how sound” it may be, “it is an exercise in futility”.
The appellate court subsequently voided the decision of Justice Okorowo, which nullified Sylva’s participation in the November 11 governorship election.
By this judgment, INEC would have to relist Sylva as the candidate of the APC for the governorship election in Bayelsa State.
Justice Binta Zubairu, who delivered the lead judgment, subsequently slammed a cost of N1 million in favour of Sylva.