Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva yesterday stopped the official inauguration of his 2012 Governorship campaign office scheduled for today.
Sylva had gone ahead with his campaign for reelection despite his party’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), non-recognition of his aspiration.
PDP had excluded him from the aspirants that contested for the November 19 party primary. Sylva has gone to court to challenge his exclusion.
LEADERSHIP? gathered yesterday that the decision by Sylva to abort the plan was taken after pressures from those involved in the amicable resolution of the contentious issues between him and the PDP. It was also learnt his continued campaigning was perceived as an act of defiance to President Goodluck Jonathan and the party leadership, thus detrimental to his pleadings and the judicial process he has resolved to pursue.
When contacted, the State Commissioner for Information, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Nathan Egba, said issues concerning the campaign office of the governor were misconstrued. He said that the shelved plan was not an official opening of a campaign office but a regular visit by Sylva to ensure that the office is opened for his supporters to gather for regular meetings, exchange of ideas and encouragement.
Egba said, ““The position is that he is not launching any campaign. The Director-General of the campaign is just meeting with coordinators and other organising officials, who had been appointed long ago before this time, to start making use of the campaign office as a way of encouraging them. It is not as if the governor wants to launch his campaign office or anything like that.