On Saturday, the APC secured an unassailable lead over in the Kogi State gubernatorial elections but before its candidate Prince Abubakar Audu could be officially declared the winner, he suffered from a stroke and died. With the matter now set to become a subject of intense legal wrangling, the APC is now focusing its attention on Bayelsa State.
Like Prince Audu, the APC's candidate in Bayesla State is a former governor and is looking to unseat an incumbent. Over the weekend, the APC candidate Chief Timipre Sylva managed to secure the backing of the Bayelsa Council of Elders, who decided to support him in preference to Governor Seriake Dickson.
In a surprise development, the council, which was actually formed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Chief Francis Doukpola, opted to back Chief Sylva on the condition that he does not move against any of them if elected. Apparently the elders secured a promise from Chief Sylva that he will not to bear any grudge against any politician and individuals for their role in the incidents that led to his disqualification to run for the second term in 2012.
Back in 2012, the PDP, at the behest of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan, deselected Chief Sylva and adopted Governor Dickson as its gubernatorial candidate. Among the elders who struck the deal with Chief Sylva were Chief Francis Doukpola; King Alfred Diete-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass; King Agara Mozi; King Joshua Igbugburu; Dr Amba Ambaowei and Chief Douglas Naingba.
King Diete-Spiff, a former military administrator of the old Rivers State confirmed they had given Chief Sylva their blessing. He added that the vote from the elders was freely given freely and without any coercion.
“For Sylva, we will like to say God be with you. We all rejoice with you in your aspiration and we want to ask that all that you promised us here today are kept,” he added.
Chief Doukpola added that although some members were partisan politicians, the BCE as an institution was not partisan. Few of the elders known to be loyal to the administration of Governor Dickson, including Chief Thompson Okorotie, were noticeably absent from the meeting.
Chief Sylva said that although he was pained by the refusal of the elders to reach out to him during the political processes that led to the exit of the former president from office, the decision to meet with them is based on the conviction that his governorship aspiration is based on true justice. He added that he is running again for the same office to correct the anomaly of 2012.
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