BAYELSA ELDERS ALLEGE PLOT TO FOIL SYLVA'S 2ND TERM BID

By NBF News

By George Onah
Port Harcourt-A group of 40 elders and political stalwarts in Bayelsa State have raised the alarm over alleged political vendetta and plot by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to frustrate the second term bid of Governor Timipre Sylva.

The elders, in a statement issued by Chiefs Diri Toru, Ayibanua Solomon, after a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Monday, said: 'The plot is not unconnected with the Court of Appeal judgment in the suit by Sylva and four other governors against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, extending their tenures as governors of their respective states.'

Although INEC obeyed the court order, it had appealed against same at the Supreme Court, seeking a reversal of the earlier order. Judgment in the matter is expected to be delivered on October 13.

The elders said: 'Feelers have it that the judgment may be in favour of INEC, declaring the tenure extension as illegal and unconstitutional. Consequently, the implication is that their stay in office from May 29, 2011, when their first tenure was to expire, could be regarded as illegal and unconstitutional.

'Indications were rife that the current political scheming were geared towards getting at Governor Sylva following PDP's introduction of re-validation of membership to create a window for the admission of new members and those who had left the party to come back.

'The plot is to split PDP in the said states into home-based and Abuja-based politicians, so as to stop the second term ambition of Sylva over alleged non-performance. Way is being paved for some top politicians in Bayelsa State who left the PDP to rejoin.

'One of such moves was the disbandment of Operation Famou Tangbe by the Inspector-General of Police.'