Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council in Bayelsa State has advised the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 governorship election in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, to step down from the race as the odds were against him.
The director-general of the campaign council, Dr Mitema Obordor, gave the advice during the party’s Sagbama local government area constituency 3 rally at Agbere community in continuation of Governor Douye Diri’s re-election campaigns.
Obordor, who is also the House of Representatives member for the Ogbia federal constituency, said unlike the PDP ticket of Diri and Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Sylva does not enjoy any level of acceptance across the state, which is a pointer to his imminent failure even if he is on the ballot on November 11.
The campaign DG alleged that Sylva displayed act of dishonesty in contesting for the election after publicly declaring that his ambition to become governor again was over. He stated that someone who cannot be true to himself should not be trusted with power.
Obordor also stressed that the principle of zoning in the state does not at the moment favour Bayelsa East where Sylva hails from, but rather the Bayelsa Central senatorial district, which is Governor Diri’s area.
He stated that Diri’s performance in office has caused members of the opposition in the state to dump their parties to work for PDP’s victory.
He said: “Let me begin my remarks with a call on Timipre Sylva to toe the part of honour and step down from this election. There are reasons I say this. The first is that for you to govern a state, you must be seen to be an honest person. You cannot say a thing today and turn 180 degrees tomorrow to do a different thing.
“The same man spoke publicly that the chapter of contesting for governorship was over in his life. So that man is dishonest as far as I am concerned.
“The second reason is that all other factors having to do with determining elections are against him. Number one factor is zoning. As far as Bayelsa State is concerned, the zoning principle favours the Central Senatorial District where our governor comes from.
“The third reason is acceptability. You can see the level of acceptance by the people of the duo of Governor Diri and his running mate, Senator Ewhrudjakpo,” he said.
Earlier, Governor Douye Diri inaugurated a newly-built cottage hospital in Agbere community as well as a 3km concrete link road constructed in neighbouring Odoni community.
At Tungbo, Diri thanked the people for always supporting the party to victory and urged them not to relent on November 11.
At Trofani community where the governor inaugurated a 17km road and 33kv overhead transmission line and substation done by the state government, he assured the people of more development, noting that his administration will continue to deliver people-oriented projects.
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