Members Of The Bayelsa Apc Are Certain That Sylva Should Not Be Eligible To Run For Governor.

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State have urged the party’s national leadership to exclude Chief Timipre Sylva, the minister of state for petroleum resources, from running in the party’s gubernatorial primary elections because he has refused to give up his post.

In a petition to the party national leadership, the party faithful from 43 Wards in the state’s Ekeremor, Ogbia, Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma, and Southern Ijaw councils noted that the minister had not resigned at the time he was being screened.

The petition, which was addressed to the national chairman, national secretary, legal adviser, and national organising secretary of the party and signed by Doubra Kpoku, Nelson Gbeinbo, Charles Fyneman, Ogbel Joseph, and Dressman Isowo among others, claimed that the minister’s action violated the party’s constitution.

“Request for Disqualification of Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva, Minister of State Petroleum Resources from Participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Primaries Planned for April 14, 2023 or Any Other Day” is the headline of the petition.

“We are card-carrying members of the APC, Bayelsa State chapter from different wards in different councils of the state and refer to the above captioned matter for your urgent attention and action to prevent our dear party from being mocked in the upcoming governorship election scheduled for November 2023 or any other date,” it says.

“The following are the reasons for our objection: The Honourable Minister, Chief Timipre Sylva, failed, refused, or neglected to resign his ministerial position as Minister of State for Petroleum of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as of March 25, 2023, when he presented himself for screening at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja International Hotel, Abuja in his bid to run in the primaries, which are anticipated to be held soon.