The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council in Bayelsa State has advised Timipre Sylva, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the November 11 governorship election, to gracefully withdraw from the race, as the odds are against him, News About Nigeria reports.
Sylva, a former governor of the state, is currently challenging his disqualification from the election by the Federal High Court in Abuja through an appeal lodged in the Court of Appeal. The court ruled that he was sworn in twice as the governor of Bayelsa State, which, according to the constitution and electoral act, is in violation.
While the APC has not conducted a significant campaign, Sylva remains optimistic that the court will rule in his favour and continues his sporadic campaign efforts.
In a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Duoye Diri, the Director-General of the PDP campaign council, Mitema Obordor, advised Sylva to step down during the party’s Sagbama Local Government Area Constituency 3 rally in the Agbere community, as part of the Governor’s re-election campaign.
Obordor criticized the former governor of the state, noting that, unlike Governor Diri and Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Sylva lacks significant support across the state, which he believes indicates his impending defeat. He also emphasized that the call for Sylva to step down stems from his previous statement that he would not run for the governorship in the state again, a promise he now appears to be breaking.
Obordor further explained that the principle of zoning in the state currently favours the Central senatorial district, which is Governor Diri’s area, rather than Bayelsa East, where Sylva is from.”
