There is rancour in the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress as some chieftains of the APC who are staunch supporters of the party’s governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, have hinted at their decision to dump him ahead of the November 11 election in the state.
The PUNCH gathered on Monday that the anti-Sylva elements made their plans known at the weekend, citing the lingering crisis of confidence that his leadership style had allegedly brought upon the state chapter of the party before and after his emergence as the governorship candidate in April 2023.
It was learnt that the situation was generating concerns among some APC stakeholders that the move could result in a depletion of Sylva’s support base and scuttle his governorship ambition if the affected party stalwarts carry out their threat.
Among those who may withdraw their support from him are the immediate-past member of the House of Representatives, Israel Sunny-Goli, who represented Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency; incumbent state House of Assembly lawmaker representing Nembe Constituency II, Edward Irigha-Brigidi, a former APC governorship aspirant, Festus Daumiebi, and a former Commissioner for Environment, Robert Enogha.
According to party sources, the APC chieftains are angry with the former governor for allegedly forcing an ex-militant leader, Joshua Maciver, on the party as his running mate without due consultations.
Sunny-Goli was said to be particularly dissatisfied with the poor handling of the intra-communal crisis in Opu-Nembe, precisely Bassambiri community, that led to loss of lives and votes for the APC in the 2023 National Assembly polls, which occasioned his (Sunny-Goli’s) defeat and inability to get re-elected.
A party source, who did not want to be mentioned, quoted Sunny-Goli as calling on his supporters to be calm over his decision, saying, “This is to tell my followers and supporters of the direction we will take on the November 11 governorship election.”
Daumiebi was also said to have voiced his dissatisfaction with Sylva, saying that he would before the end of this week make public the direction for his supporters to follow toward the forthcoming polls.
