Ex-Governor Timipre Sylva Suspended by Bayelsa APC for Visiting a PDP Governor, Corruption, among Others

Former governor of Bayelsa state and the All Progressive Congress‘ gubernatorial candidate in the December 5th governorship elections in Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva has been suspended indefinitely by the party along with four others.

In a statement jointly signed by the chairman of the state chapter Timipa Orunimighe and the secretary, Daniel Marlin, the APC accused the former governor of betrayal, factionalization, corruption, and trading of political offices.

The statement read in part:

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 flag-bearer in the 2015 governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva pending the investigation of the following cases brought against him.

Corruption, Indiscipline and Trading of Political Offices: We find it deeply embarrassing his relentless efforts to commercialize 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 of the party constitution.

Anti-Party Activities: 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.

Attempts to Form a parallel executive: This is in complete defiance of Article 21, under offences which states, ‘Factionalization or creating parallel party organs at any level’ is punishable by the extremists of means.

His antics betrays the present posture of Buhari’s regime which has cardinal virtues of honesty, sincerity and transparency.

Others who were suspended with him are Joseph Fafi, the party’s senatorial vice chairman central zone; Fortune Panebi, Publicity Secretary; Tonye Okio, Organizing Secretary; and Edison Sogwe. They were said to have connived with Sylva to destabilize the party.

Source: ThisDay