Sylva surrenders, accepts cancellation of victory at APC primary

Former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva

After days of stand-off with the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, Timipre Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, has accepted to participate in the party’s governorship primary election rescheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.


This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by his campaign organisation and signed by Doifie Buokoribo.

At the end of its meeting on Monday, the National Working Committee of the APC announced the cancellation of the earlier primary held on September 22, which was purportedly won by Mr. Sylva.

It rescheduled the exercise for Tuesday and Wednesday and asked the former governor to go to court if he would not accept the decision.

Before the meeting, the National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, had announced that last week’s primary election had been annulled, citing security challenges as reason.

However, Mr. Sylva, who purportedly polled 726 votes to emerge victorious at the controversial election, kicked against the action, saying the national chairman had no power to do so.

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who headed the seven-member committee appointed by the NWC to conduct the election, also dismissed the exercise which purportedly produced Mr. Sylva. He said the exercise did not hold.

But Mr. Sylva faulted Mr. Oshiomhole’s claim, describing him (Oshiomhole) as a “liar” and “hopelessly compromised.” He vows to keep his victory.
 
In the statement on Tuesday, the Timipre Sylva Campaign Organisation, said although the decision to cancel the earlier election was “unfortunate,” the former governor accepted it in the larger interest of the APC.

It expressed confidence that the former governor would win the rescheduled primary.

“The cancellation of the 22 September primary, where Chief Timipre Sylva was overwhelmingly voted by the APC family in our state to fly the party’s flag at the 5 December governorship election, is unfortunate,” the statement said.

“But as loyal and faithful party folks, we have the serenity to accept the decision in the larger interest of our great party. We urge our teeming supporters to remain peaceful and unruffled, rest assured that all is well.

“Ultimately, our victory is sure. Our hope cannot be annulled. Our mission to rescue Bayelsa State from the grip of maladministration and underdevelopment is a task that must be accomplished.”

The statement urged Mr. Sylva’s supporters to come out massively to vote for the former governor at the primary.

It said, “We should come out more massively than ever before this Wednesday, 30 September, to repeat the overwhelming endorsement you gave Sylva on 22 September. Together, we shall give the lie to the report of our detractors.”
Meanwhile PREMIUM TIMES correspondent in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, reported that delegates were currently going through accreditation at the Samson Siasia Stadium and would vote on Wednesday.
The party has up till Wednesday to submit the name of its candidate and the running mate in the December 5 election to the Independent National Electoral Commission.