The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially excluded Chief Timipre Sylva, the Governorship Candidate of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), and his deputy, Joshua Maciver, from the roster of eligible candidates for the forthcoming Governorship election in Bayelsa State.

This decision stems from a recent court directive mandating the removal of the APC candidates from the electoral race. In an official statement, INEC's Secretary, Rose Oriarian-Anthony, confirmed this development.

The Commission had initially unveiled the list of candidates for the Bayelsa State Governorship election on June 9, 2023, under the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended).

However, after the publication, INEC received a court order about the APC candidate's nomination for the 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State. Oriarian-Anthony stated, "In light of the court order received after the publication of the candidates' list, the Independent National Electoral Commission is obligated to comply with the judicial directive."

The court order, leading to the exclusion of Chief Timipre Sylva and Joshua Maciver, was issued under the provisions of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which compels INEC to enforce court orders without exception.