Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva and governorship aspirant, will win the rescheduled governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his campaign team has stated.
Sylva was declared winner of the disputed primary held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa.
The national leadership of the APC cancelled the primary and rescheduled it for Tuesday through Wednesday.
But the Timipre Sylva Campaign Organization has described the invalidation of the primary election as unfortunate.
A statement in Yenagoa today by Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, on behalf of the campaign team, however said Sylva would abide by the party's decision because as a loyal party member, he believes in the supremacy of the party.
The campaign organization in the statement titled, ‘We Will Win Again,’ told its supporters to remain calm and steadfast, saying, “Ultimately, our victory is sure.”
The statement by the campaign team read in part, “The cancellation of the September 22 primary, where Chief Timipre Sylva was overwhelmingly voted by the APC family in our state to fly the party’s flag at the December 5 governorship election, is unfortunate.
“But as loyal and faithful party folks, we have the serenity to accept the decision in the larger interest of our great party. We urge our teeming supporters to remain peaceful and unruffled, rest assured that all is well.
“Ultimately, our victory is sure. Our hope cannot be annulled. Our mission to rescue Bayelsa State from the grip of maladministration and underdevelopment is a task that must be accomplished.”
It urged delegates to come out en masse than ever before on Wednesday to repeat the “overwhelming endorsement you gave Sylva on September 22.”
Though there had been fears that Sylva might head for the court to stop the new primary election, sources said influential members of the party prevailed on him not to take any action that would be inimical to the larger interest of the party.
Sylva was said to have dropped the idea of going to court and decided to participate in the fresh primary to safeguard the interest of the party ahead of the December 5 governorship election.