Jonathan/PDP NWC Disqualify Sylva From Bayelsa PDP Guber Primary

SAN FRANCISCO, October 31, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva has been disqualified from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bayelsa governorship primary by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the PDP National Working Committee, THEWILL can authoritatively report.

Sylva’s fate was sealed in a late Monday night meeting between members of the NWC and President Jonathan inside the Presidential villa.

THEWILL can also report that the former managing Director of state-owned NTA, Mr. Ben Murray Bruce was also disqualified for holding multiple citizenship (Nigeria and the United States), while another aspirant, Mr. Francis Doukpola was disqualified over faulty tax papers.

A party source with details of the meeting told THEWILL that though the PDP Appeal Screening Committee that interviewed Sylva found no reason to disqualify him from the governorship primary, the Mrs. Olujimi Abiodun panel referred his case to the NWC, because it was aware of the Presidency’s position on returning Sylva as Governor of Bayelsa.

The source who opted to remain anonymous further said that President Jonathan at the meeting expressed anger over Sylva’s verbal threats to kill him and insisted that the powerful committee throw him off the Governorship primary, as his outbursts were treasonable.

However, the fate of former NDDC managing Director Timi Alaibe remained uncertain as the source would not comment on the fate of the returnee party member, who had earlier appealed to the party leadership to clear him to contest.

“The party would issue a statement where Alaibe’s fate would be made public,” the source said.

The rocky relationship between Sylva and President Jonathan peaked a few days ago after Sylva threatened to deal with Jonathan following his support for anti-Sylva forces amongst Bayelsa State PDP elites based in Abuja.