The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday finally barred the governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timipre Sylva, from contesting the November 19 governorship primaries, thus ending the cat-and-mouse game that has characterised the clearance process.
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Sylva is believed to be having? a running battle with? President Goodluck Jonathan, who is said to have deployed his influence to stop the governor from contesting for a second term of office.
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Other aspirants barred along with Sylva were Timi Alaibe, Ben Murray-Bruce and Godknows Igali.
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However, the embattled governor has vowed to challenge the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC), saying that it was disturbing that his membership of PDP was being abridged.
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Also, a defiant Igali continued with his campaign in Yenagoa, not minding the power play in Abuja, urging supporters to go for change and restoration in Bayelsa.
Sealing Sylva’s fate yesterday on behalf of the ruling party, the national publicity secretary of the party, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said Sylva’s fate came after the National Working Committee concluded the review of the reports of the screening committee and screening appeal panel for the gubernatorial primaries in Bayelsa State.
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Alkali said: “After a thorough review of the two reports, and after a painstaking examination of all the issues raised about each and every aspirant, the NWC has cleared seven out of the 11 aspirants that purchased forms to contest for the primaries. Those who were cleared and shall contest the gubernatorial primaries are the following: Orufa Justine Boloubo, Dickson Seriake Henry, Enai Christopher Fullpower and Kalango Michael Youppele. Others included Francis Amaebi, Ekiyegha Francis Korobido and Austin Febo.’
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The party said this was its final list and decision as it concerned the aspirants in Bayelsa, adding that all efforts should now be geared towards mobilising party members for the forthcoming primaries and elections in the state. It added that the cleared aspirants would soon be issued with their clearance certificates.
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“In view of the foregoing, all those aspirants whose names appear in para 2 above will be dully issued with final clearance certificates to enable them stand for the forthcoming primary elections. For the avoidance of doubt, and in line with the provisions of our guidelines for primary elections, no aspirant can or should use a provisional certificate as a basis for unilaterally declaring himself or herself as a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa State. Even where he or she does so, it is of no value, effect or utility for the primary elections and is therefore redundant.
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“The NWC wishes to reiterate its commitment towards enforcing discipline within the ranks of the party at all levels. We shall therefore not hesitate to invoke disciplinary measures on any member who disregards lawful party directives or who engages in acts capable of undermining the party’s cohesion or initiates and takes any step that could lead to the breaching of public peace,” the party said.
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President Goodluck Jonathan may have resolved not to endorse the embattled Governor of his home state, Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva, because of his perceived opposition during the political impasse occasioned by the prolonged illness of his predecessor in office, the late Umaru Yar Adua, among other “sins”, LEADERSHIP can authoritatively report.
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The cloud of uncertainty has been hanging over the second term ambition of the governor as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party has resolved not to give him the much-sought ticket.
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The NWC, apparently working in the interest of the president, has voided the clearance certificate earlier granted to Sylva by the party’s screening committee in Port-Harcourt on October 27.
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But the governor dared both the NWC and the president with his declaration at the weekend where he presented the same voided clearance certificate, saying that with it, he was qualified to contest the primary though he failed to decamp to either the Labour Party or the Action Congress of Nigeria (ANC).
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Another ‘sin’ leveled against the governor was his alleged threat message to deal with the president shortly after the National Assembly endorsed him as the acting president. This, LEADERSHIP reliably gathered, has become the albatross on Sylvia; other allegations are being kept away for security reasons.
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Meanwhile, Ben Murray Bruce, also not cleared to contest the primaries, says against his belief that an election was to take place in Bayelsa, it was evidently clear that coronation had become the order of the day.
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“I believed in my heart as a democrat when I entered the race for the governorship of Bayelsa that the race would be fair, democratic and competitive but it has now become clear that it is not a competition but a coronation,” he said. He, however, vowed to continue the struggle for change and keep hope alive.
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Governor Sylva and his supporters are reviewing the NWC decision.
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He noted that the NWC decision does not annul his membership of the PDP. As Governor of Bayelsa State under the platform of the PDP, Sylva remains the leader of the party in the state. As a loyal party person, he will participate in all party activities.
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Nonetheless, Sylva drew the attention of the public to reports alleging that there were attempts to arrest him on trumped-up treasonable felony charges. “The story is that there is a tape in which he threatened to kill President Goodluck Jonathan. This is completely false. At no time did Sylva threaten to kill President Jonathan. He has no reason whatsoever to wish the president or any other person dead. Sylva enjoins the people of Bayelsa State, especially his numerous supporters to remain calm, law-abiding and hopeful.”
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It may however, not be a smooth sail as governors of the PDP seem set to declare war with the party leadership in a move to pave way for Sylva to contest the November 19 governorship primary.
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A source close to the governors told LEADERSHIP that the decision of the party made known yesterday did not go down well with the governors who vowed to stop at nothing in ensuring that Sylva gets into in the race.
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“The governors will likely meet in Abuja tomorrow (today) to make sure that the party rescind that decision. Their worry is that the issue is putting the powers of the
PDP Governors’ Forum, a once formidable forum headed by Bukola Saraki then, to a big test,” the source said.
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