Ahead of the November 11 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, some stakeholders in the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have mocked the party’s governorship standard-bearer, Chief Timipre Sylva, for naming himself the Director General of the Campaign Council.
Reacting to the constitution and inauguration of the campaign council, the stakeholders and chieftains of the party under the auspices of Bayelsa APC Integrity Group, said the development has vindicated the group which had accused the party Sylva of running a one-man show in the party.
The reaction by the group is contained in a statement signed and sent to Media Talk Africa, on Thursday by its coordinator, Chief Ebipadeowei Oyinkuro.
The group recalled that only a few years ago, APC was not only in the heart and mouth of the people of Bayelsa State but was also at the commanding height of goodwill in the State, regretting that weeks to the forthcoming election, all that had evaporated.
The statement read: “The party not only appears to be going into battle with its flanks wide open, but it is deep in tatters and also showing signs that it requires oxygen.
“Well-regarded and influential members of the party in the state who could rightly be described as the first and best 11 have all turned their backs against Chief Sylva.
“Many other party stalwarts who never set out from the onset to be dissidents are also openly pitching their tent with the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sen. Douye Diri.
“They are angry over the high-handedness of Chief Sylva and for conducting himself as if the APC in the state is his personal estate.
“His governorship ambition comes across to them like an entitled birthright. Nothing better tells the story other than the fact that Chief Sylva is both a Gubernatorial Candidate and Chairman of his own campaign.
“His cousin, Chief Dennis Otiotio, who is the state Chairman of the Party is Alternate-Chairman, while the running mate, Joshua Macaiver is the co-chairman. The majority of the rest of the campaign council are from Sylva’s circle.”
