Apc Faction Suspends Timipre Sylva For Anti-party Activities
SAN FRANCISCO, April 03, (THEWILL) – A faction of the Bayelsa state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Timipre Sylva, its candidate in the 2015 governorship election, and other members of the executive committee of the party.
Timipa Orunimighe, Chairman of the party in Bayelsa, said the offence was paying “a clandestine visit” to an unnamed governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the south-south adding that the decision was reached after due consultations with stakeholders
Added to the offence was “anti- party activities and attempt to frustrate the change agenda of the Buhari administration in the state.”
“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 Guber flag bearer in the 2015 election, Chief Timipre Sylva, pending the investigation of the following cases brought against him,” Orunmighe said.
“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.
“Corruption, indiscipline and trading of political offices. We find it deeply embarrassing his relentless efforts to commercialise 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.
“To save the image of the party and restore confidence among members, the state executive committee hereby suspends Chief Timipre Sylva and his cronies pending the conclusion of investigation. The committee will be inaugurated next week to look into the various allegations.”
Sylva contested the December 2015 governorship election as APC candidate but he lost to Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whom INEC said polled 134,998 votes, while he polled 86,852 votes.
But the faction loyal to the former governor described Orunminigbe and others behind the purported suspension of Sylva as jesters saying it was laughable for Oruminighe, who was earlier suspended, to turn around to say Sylva was on suspension.
The Publicity Secretary, Panebi Fortune said: “They are fighting a lost battle because two people cannot suspend any of us. We properly constituted a meeting of the state executive council where about 21 of us took a decision that suspended Oruminighe and his cohorts.
“Their suspension stands because it was done in accordance with the rules and procedures of the party. We have facts and proofs on their illegal activities that led to their suspension. Let them provide evidence that we ever engaged in anti-party activities.”
“Twenty-one members of the state executive council on Friday suspended Orunimigha, his deputy, Eddy Julius and the Secretary, Daniel Marlin. They accused them of gross misconduct, financial embezzlement and anti-party activities.
“The decision to suspend Tiwe and his group was at the end of an emergency meeting in Yenagoa. The members declared Fafi and Alabo Martins as the interim chairman and secretary respectively.”
Story by David Oputah