National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Mr. Lai Mohammed, has dismissed as ‘untrue’ the claim that the party leadership has adopted a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, as a consensus candidate of the party in the state.
Some politicians in the state on Saturday claimed that the APC leadership had anointed Sylva as the party’s consensus candidate for the December 5 governorship election.
But Mohammed in a telephone interview on Saturday dismissed the claim as untrue.
“As far as APC is concerned, the governorship primary will hold on Tuesday,” he said.
Also, a founding member of the APC in the state, Perekeme Kpodo, debunked the claim.
Kpodo, who spoke in an interview in Yenagoa on Saturday, described the speculation as false, saying it was an ‘evil machination’ of some people to create tension and polarise the party.
Kpodo, who was recently pardoned by the national leadership of the party following his expulsion by the State Executive Council, said, “The news flying around in the state that Timipre Sylva has been adopted by the leaders of the APC is untrue and has no basis. Nobody has adopted Sylva as a consensus candidate.
“APC is a serious party that will not toe ignoble path such as adopting any aspirant. It will be a disgrace to the APC because of the following reasons: One, it is not democratic. APC is a party that stands for change. We are talking of the APC on board now and there are a lot of changes taking place in the country. It is visible for all.
“The speculation is diversionary. The party has said every aspirant should go to the primary to test their popularity and that is how it should be and that is how it is right now.”
In a related development, some elders, women group, youths in the state have asked Sylva to step down for a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Timi Alaibe.
The group, under the aegis of Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders for Good Governance described Alaibe as the best governorship candidate for the party, stressing that he possess all it takes to make a good governor.
The group said, “Like President Muhammadu Buhari, who tried four times before Nigerians gave him their mandate, Alaibe should be given the opportunity to steer the ship of the state.”
Also, political associates of Alaibe, have faulted the report that Sylva had emerged as a consensus candidate. They described the report as fictitious, untrue and a deliberate attempt by the authors to cause disaffection within the APC ahead of the primaries. Punch
