PDP Officially Bars Sylva From Running As Bayelsa Governor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially disqualified the Governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva, from participating in the state primaries for the governorship elections. The National Working Committee of the PDP today released a statement announcing that the governor, and a few others including Timi Alaibe and TV executive, Ben Bruce,  did not make the final list of qualified candidates.

Saharareporters broke the news a few weeks ago revealing that a final decision had been made to prevent the governor from returning to office under the banner of the PDP. However, Sylva vigorously denied our reports and went ahead to engage in bribing PDP officials to reinstate him.www.mannastores.com


A PDP source told SaharaReporters that the NWC dragged out Mr. Sylva's disqualification to stop him from moving to another party too soon The source stated that Mr. Sylva will be disqualified even if he runs on another party platform.

NWC Press statement below:
             The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded the review of the reports of the Screening Committee and Screening Appeal panel for the gubernatorial primaries in Bayelsa State scheduled to hold on the 18th of November 2011.

2.          After a thorough review of the two reports, and after a painstaking examination of all the issues raised about each and every aspirant, the NWC has cleared seven out of the 11 aspirants that purchased forms to contest for the primaries. Those who were cleared and shall contest the gubernatorial primaries are the following:

I.       Orufa Justine Boloubo
II.      Dickson Seriake Henry
III.     Enai Christopher Fullpower
IV.     Kalango Michael Youppele
V.      Francis Amaebi
VI.     Ekiyegha Francis Korobido
VII.    Austin Febo




3.        However, in this last and final batch, four of the aspirants did not scale through the Party screening process and have therefore not been cleared to contest the primaries. Those not cleared are.

I.        Alaibe Ndutimi
II.       Ben Murray Bruce
III.      Timipre Marun Sylva
IV.      Igali Godknows Boladet.

4.        All Members of the Party, especially stakeholders in Bayelsa State should note that this is the final decision on the status of all aspirants for the forthcoming Primaries. All efforts should now be geared towards mobilizing Party members for the forthcoming primaries and Elections in the State.

5.         In view of the forgoing, all those aspirants whose names appear in para 2 above will be dully issued with final Clearance Certificates to enable them stand for the forthcoming primary elections. For the avoidance of doubt, and in line with the provisions of our guidelines for primary elections, no aspirant can or should use a provisional certificate as a basis for unilaterally declaring himself or herself as a candidate of Peoples' Democratic Party for the Gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa State. Even where he or she does so, it is of no value, effect or utility for the primary elections and is therefore redundant.

6.        The NWC wishes to reiterate it's commitment towards enforcing discipline within the ranks of the Party at all levels. We shall therefore not hesitate to invoke disciplinary measures  on any member who disregards lawful Party directives or who engages in acts capable of undermining the Party's cohesion or initiates and takes any step that could lead to the breaching of public peace.

Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali
National Publicity Secretary