Politics

Bayelsa Guber: APC Members Call For Sylva’s Disqualification

Published

3 years ago

March 27, 2023

For allegedly not resigning his position as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, some card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State, have called for the disqualification of Timipre Sylva from contesting the governorship primaries of the party.

The party faithful drawn from over forty wards in Ekeremor, Ogbia, Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of the State, in a petition to the party’s national leadership, pointed out that as at the time the minister was screened, he had not resigned his ministerial position which is a clear violation of the party’s constitution.

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

They vowed to approach the court to seek the disqualification of Sylva if the party hierarchy fails to disqualify the Minister who is also a former governor of the state adding that it is the same scenario that played out during the nomination and expression of interest for the presidential ticket of the party by political office holders.

The petition reads: “The grounds for our objection are as follows: as at 25th March 2023 when the Honourable Minister, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva presented himself for screening at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja International Hotel, Abuja in his bid to contest the primaries which is expected to be conducted any time soon, the Minister had failed, refused and or neglected to resign his ministerial position as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

“This is against the extant provisions of Article 31 paragraph (iii) APC Constitution, as amended; the minister and now aspirant for Governor of Bayelsa State is a member of the APC, holding political office by virtue of his membership of the APC and as leader of the party in Bayelsa State.

“It is only reasonable that he should respect the party Constitution by resigning 30 (thirty) days before the primaries (scheduled for April 14, 2023). It is clear that as at 25th of March, 2023 when the Minister presented himself for the screening, it is already less than 30 days to 14th of April, 2023 being the date schedule for the APC Governorship Primaries in Bayelsa State for which the Honourable Minister is an aspirant.

“In our opinion, the Honourable Minister cannot and should not be encouraged to eat his cake and have it. This was the same scenario that played out during the nomination and expression of interest for the Presidential ticket of the party by political office holders in the Government of President Muhamadu Buhari as all political office holders as Ministers in the Federal Executive Council resigned before the APC Presidential Primaries: Cases in point are Chief Rotimi Amaechi and Chief Godswill Akpabio all resigned as Ministers of Transport and that of Niger Delta Affairs respectively ahead of the Presidential primaries.

“Of more fundamental import is the implication of the Honourable Minister who has been sworn in twice as Governor of Bayelsa State in 2007 and 2008 bearing in mind the clear provision of section 180 (2A) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. The Honourable Minister’s ambition in the circumstance is one likely to be mired in controversy and ultimately cause the party in Bayelsa State to lose its fortunes at the polls in November 2023,

“It is in view of the above that we now request that the aspiration of Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva to partake in the primaries be refused and he be disqualified by the Screening Panel set up by our beloved party.

“Take notice that where this Petition is not considered in its merits and the Honourable Minister is not disqualified as requested, we shall have no other option than to approach the court for redress.The APC in Bayelsa State must get it right this time around.”
VANGUARD

Politics

Dino Melaye Reacts To Malami’s Arraignment For Money Laundering

Published

21 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Ex-Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has reacted to the arraignment of a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, before an Abuja Federal High Court.

Melaye wished Malami well as he began his trial for corruption.

Posting on X, the former lawmaker recalled how he was prosecuted by Malami over what he described as frivolous cases while he was the AGF.

He wrote: “Reminded me of how I was appearing in different courts when Malami as AGF was prosecuting me over frivolous cases including taking over one of the police cases against me. Wish him.well.”

Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and another individual are facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.

They were arraigned on allegations of unlawful acquisition and concealment of funds.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Politics

What PDP Said About Wike’s Media Parley

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of being a constant agent of provocation in the political space, alleging that he creates trouble to mask selfish intentions.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in response to Wike’s media parley with selected journalists in Port Harcourt, also held on Monday.

According to the PDP, remarks made by the minister on several occasions are proof that he falls short of being a locus classicus of anti-democratic adventurism.

The party said Wike’s conduct was not new, stressing that he has consistently acted as an agent provocateur in the political arena, stirring controversy to advance personal interests.

The PDP further stated that since Wike assumed office as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, he has remained a recurrent source of trouble within the party’s leadership.

“From the Sheriff era, where he was a forerunner in the Sheriff-for-National Chairman movement and later turned to fight and remove Sheriff; later he championed the Uche Secondus-for-National Chairman movement (in fact, he granted a very combustible interview that polarized the party just before the convention) and then was the same person fighting to remove Secondus.

“The same Wike led the movement to produce Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman against the advice of many party leaders, and so soon thereafter, it was Wike again who led the Ayu-must-go struggle.

“By his end-of-year media chat, Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for, and in fact declared that he is the ‘number one supporter’ of the presumptive candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 Presidential election, while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, confirming the basis of his expulsion from the PDP, for anti-party activities,” the statement said.

Politics

JUST IN: INEC Excludes PDP From Ekiti Governorship Election

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his deputy were conspicuously absent as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the provisional list of party candidates ahead of the election.

INEC on Monday posted the list of candidates from 12 political parties vying for the state’s top job at its office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list shows that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

Other candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as deputy; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye as running mate.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action Peoples Party has Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi on its ticket.

The PDP’s absence may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.