The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the December 5 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election, Chief Timipre Sylva, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to add up and announce the results from the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and declare a winner in the elections.
In a petition to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, which was copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), Sylva stated that the commission lacked the powers to cancel already concluded or on-going election.
Chief Timipre Sylva,in the copy of the petition made available to newsmen in Yenagoa by his Media Aide,Doifie Borukuribo,said his call is based on the provision under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), there is no power either, express or implied that is vested on the Resident Electoral Commissioner, your commission or any staff whatsoever to cancel election that has commenced or concluded, in any manner as was done in Bayelsa state.
According to Sylva” The Commission’s power, in the above is limited only to the postponement of election that has not commenced,” Sylva wrote in the letter dated 8th December 2015.”
