Justice Okorowo ruled that Chief Sylva, having served two terms and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state. Citing the case of Marwa vs. Nyako at the Supreme Court, Okorowo noted that the drafters of the country’s constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as governor more than two times, and the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva was elected into office twice.

He further stated that the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Marwa vs. Nyako that nobody can expand the constitution or its scope. So, if Sylva is allowed to contest the next election, it means a person can contest as many times as he wishes.