APC suspends Sylva for ‘visiting PDP governor’

The Bayelsa state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Timipre Sylva, its candidate in the 2015 governorship election, for paying “a clandestine visit” to an unnamed governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the south-south.

Timipa Orunimighe, chairman of the party in Bayelsa, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday, saying the decision was reached after due consultations with stakeholders.

He alleged that Sylva was plotting to form a parallel executive, and that he was engaging in acts that were not in tandem with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“After due consultations with relevant stakeholders and elders in the state, the Bayelsa state executive committee at an emergency meeting today took the painful but necessary decision to suspend our Guber flag bearer in the 2015 election, Chief Timipre Sylva, pending the investigation of the following cases brought against him,” Orunmighe said in a statement.

“We have it on good record Timipre Sylva, last week Tuesday precisely, paid a clandestine visit to one of the south south governors of the PDP; this is just one of the series of correspondences between them and we find it grossly unbecoming.

“This is in direct breach of article 21, under ‘Offences’ in the party constitution which states in section 2, ‘anti-party activities or any conduct, which is likely to embarrass or have adverse effect on the party or bring the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute’ Is punishable.

“Corruption, indiscipline and trading of political offices. We find it deeply embarrassing his relentless efforts to commercialise political offices.

“Worse still, is that, members of the opposition who vehemently stood against the change ideal and still do not believe in our party’s course are with him on the bargaining table. This is not in fidelity with the party’s constitution which states in article 21, section 1, subsection 3 that ‘…engaging in dishonest practices…’ are punishable by full stretch.

“To save the image of the party and restore confidence among members, the state executive committee hereby suspends Chief Timipre Sylva and his cronies pending the conclusion of investigation.  The committee will be inaugurated next week to look into the various allegations.”

Sylva contested the December 2015 governorship election as APC candidate but he lost to Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whom INEC said polled 134,998 votes, while he polled 86,852 votes.