“Fielding Sylva as APC candidate, a recipe for electoral failure against PDP” – Frank Okputu

One of the founding members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Hon. Sunday Frank-Okputu has described as “recipe for failure” the alleged plot by some members of the party to ensure that the former Governor and State leader of the Party, Chief Timipre Sylva emerges as flag bearer of the party for the November 16th Governorship poll in the state.

According to Sunday Frank-Okputu, the alleged forceful manipulations of Party mode of primaries and twisted hand over of party flag to Chief Timipre Sylva will spell electoral doom for the party and unite the cracked blogs within the state PDP for huge election defeat against APC.

Hon. Sunday Frank-Okputu, who is also a one-time State Chairman of the defunct Conference of Political Parties (CNPP) and two time Chairmanship aspirant of the APC in Bayelsa, told newsmen in Yenagoa, predicted that the implosion expected within the Bayelsa PDP over alleged attempt by Gov. Dickson to impose successor may not come if Chief Timipre Sylva is presented as Governorship flag bearer of the APC.

According to Sunday Frank-Okputu, “All am doing is trying to save APC from imminent disgrace if what they are planning is true. Those following Chief Timipre Sylva should know that am one of those that had defended him on many occasions. This 2019 election is the only chance for the APC to win the Governorship election and they need to work beyond personal interest of presenting Timipre Sylva as candidate for the poll.”

“The members should not fall into the trap of making Chief Timipre Sylva candidate of the party. It will be a recipe for electoral failure and tragedy. They should shop for a more credible and acceptable candidate for the party. We need another candidate that will also be appreciated by the fragmented members of the State PDP and it is definitely not Sylva. If we Pursue Sylva candidature, it will unite the fragmented parts of the PDP against the APC.”

“APC must utilize the existing cracks in the PDP and win overwhelmingly. The ratio of PDP to APC in Bayelsa is 20 to three. It will be easier to rally the PDP members with a genuine candidate instead of Sylva. The Governor Dickson led restoration is praying that the Sylva nomination should forcefully scale through because they know they will defeat APC again.”

“Sylva has become an enemy of the PDP members because he accepts every suggestions but do not take any. The people have never seen a man vying for Governorship and does not take the destiny of his people serious. Sylva candidature can’t fly in Bayelsa. Sylva inability to play genuine politics made us fail in 2016.”

“Sylva did not take serious notice of the recruitment of Adhoc staff. He allowed the ruling party influenced the recruitment of Adhoc staff. It almost happened during the Presidential and National Assembly elections too. But the problem of imposition of candidate in the PDP saved us from electoral disgrace. So, Sylva should not claim victory to the National and State Assembly seats won in the last poll. If the party make the mistake of presenting Sylva, the PDP family will make him a common enemy that should be defeated.”

On the poor membership drive of the APC in Bayelsa, Hon. Sunday Frank-Okputu insisted that the poor handling of the leadership issues of the party led to reduced party membership,” I must commend those that had stayed with the party without the noticeable appreciation and appointments.” These are strong party men. We are at a crossroad and we need to stage a fair contest to gain the showers of blessing after the November 16th elections. Let us stand as a family to vote for a credible candidate for the party”.

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