35 out of 36 political parties’ candidates have so far been declared eligible to contest in the February 11 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The name of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was however omitted, with the INEC pointing out that the candidacy of the party is subject to litigation.

The list was confirmed today by the display of the material by the entrance of the INEC office in Yenagoa, the state capital.

It can be recalled that incumbent governor and the PDP have since the time of screening of the party’s prospective candidates been involved in series of litigations.

What is not certain at the moment is the outcome of the aforementioned legal tussle and the fate of the party and governor Sylva if their matters remain in court beyond a reasonable time.

But INEC had cleared Kemela Obuobowi as governorship candidate and Salaguo Christian as deputy to contest the poll on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)

The regulatory body also gave the green light to the Labour Party (LP’s ) governorship candidate, Bodiseowei Atari-Adou and his deputy Johnny Benjamin to contest the poll.

In his reaction to the issue, state PDP Chairman, Decaon James Durgo said “We are completely taken aback by this development and to say the least, we are shocked, embarrassed and disappointed that INEC would take such a drastic and monumental decision without recourse to us as a party, having formally received and accepted the names of our candidate and his running mate following the successful conduct of our party primaries on November 19, 2011.”