Guber Race: Sunny-Goli, Supporters Dump Sylva, Embrace Duoye

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has reached a crescendo as Israel Sunny-Goli, a chieftain of the party and core loyalist of the governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming governorship election Timipre Sylva, has quit his campaign train.

Sunny-Goli who is the immediate past member representing Nembe-Brass federal constituency, at a news conference on Thursday in Yenagoa, said the former petroleum resources minister, has no structure to defeat Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the reason for quitting Sylva campaign train was due to his lack of capacity to win the election.

Sunny-Goli, who displayed a governorship race chat, with incumbent governor Diri expected to emerge victorious in the eight local government areas of the state in the upcoming election, said Sylva has taken his loyalty of over 20 years for granted and as such he cannot continue to support him.

He said, “Though there are other members of the party that will support Timipre Sylvia, but because my interest is not in him I pulled out and it doesn’t mean the party will not conduct election , so that tomorrow people will not take loyalty and support for granted.

“I have told you earlier on that Timipre Sylvia is taking my loyalty for granted and support for over 20 something years and undermining me. I have mentioned here during my presentation that myself and supporters across the state we have decided on who to support when it comes to the governorship election come November 11, 2023 and we will know who we will support and in the appropriate time we will let you know where we are going to put our vote.

“So don’t put on and as a politician have looked at the state and how the parties are preparing and it is my right to also say how I feel and I have told you as it stands if INEC is to conduct election, Gov. Douye Diri will win all the Eight local government areas landslide. And am giving you a graphic position so wait for me to tell you who I will support come November election.”

The former federal lawmaker, who was accompanied by scores of traditional leaders and thousands of supporters, dismissed the claims that he will defect to the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in the state, insisting that he remains a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

“Till date, I am still a member of the APC. You know we just elected our President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and am proud to be among those that supported him to succeed. On the occasion of having issues with my principal, Chief Timipre Sylvia, these are issues that bother on taking my loyalty for more than 20 years for granted, I have discussed with my supporters across the state, have told them my reasons and they have accepted.

“Also, I have my right to support whosoever I want to support when election comes, it is a tough decision because for you to leave a place where you have stayed over 20years is not easy but for some obvious reasons I have to take a decision for some people to know that my loyalty and support should not be taken for granted for whatever reason.

“So, I am quitting the campaign of Timipre Sylvia becoming the governor of Bayelsa State come November 11 and at the appropriate time the world will know where we are going to support; myself and my supporters.

“I have looked at all the parties and all the candidates and campaign to win the hands of Bayelsa and am also convinced that as it stands, Timipre Sylva does not have the political structure of Bayelsa State to win Douye Diri come November 11, 2023,” he said.