The report of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party's [PDP] Governorship Screening Appeal Panel for Bayelsa State was submitted to the party's Acting National Chairman Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje yesterday without clearing Governor Timipre Sylva to contest in the election. Instead, it handed over to the PDP's National Working Committee [NWC] and its "elders" the task of deciding the governor's fate because of what it called the "weighty" issues involved.
Sylva's increasingly gloomy path to renomination is widely attributed by political pundits to his misunderstandings with President Goodluck Jonathan, who is alleged to be moving to oust the governor of his home state ahead of the election scheduled for January. The two men have had long running political quarrels, though they pretended to have made up during the last April's elections.
The panel's report submitted yesterday was signed by its chairman Mrs Biodun Olujinmi and the secretary Abba Anas Adamu. The panel said although Sylva was cleared by the earlier Screening Panel, it received petitions from oracle Law Firm "alleging acts of threat to national security, treasonable felonies and serious anti-party activities" against the governor.
It said although Sylva appeared before it and defended himself on the charges of anti-party activities, the panel "lacks adequate information and technical know-how to reach a defendable position." It therefore said, "The panel notes that security issues are beyond the scope of its assignment. It therefore recommends that the NWC and the elders of the party looks [sic] into the matter and decide appropriately."
Another high-profile candidate axed by the panel was former Nigeria Television Authority [NTA] director general Murray Ben Bruce, who it said admitted to having dual Nigerian and American citizenship, contrary to Section 182 of the Constitution. It said the provisional clearance granted to him by the screening panel should be withdrawn.
Other candidates who obtained clearance from the screening panel but who were axed yesterday by the appeals panel were Doukpola Francis Amaebi, Orufa Justine Boloubo, Ekiyegha Fred Korobido, and Austin Febo. Amaebi was axed for "not properly disengaging from his working place," while Boloubo was axed not paying his taxes as and when due. Febo was said not to have tax clearance papers, while Korobido failed to appear before the panel.
Former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] Timi Alaibe, who recently left Labour Party and returned to PDP, was axed by the appeal panel, as well as by the screening panel before it, for not having a waiver. The panel said only NWC could grant him a waiver. As Dr. Boladei Igali, once rumoured to be President Jonathan's favoured candidate but who failed to appear for screening, he asked for a new date to appear for screening, saying he travelled abroad on Nigeria's behalf. The panel forwarded the matter to NWC for determination.
Yesterday's fast unfolding events in Bayelsa appeared to be clearing the way for Mr Henry Dickson to clinch the PDP nomination, as he had been cleared by the screening panel and this was not upturned by the appeal panel.
PDP's National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali however told Daily Trust last night that the party "would soon decide on the two reports received on the personal records and assessment of its governorship aspirants in Bayelsa State."
Alkali was reacting to widespread reports that Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva had been disqualified from participating in the party's November 19 gubernatorial primary election in the state. He told Daily Trust on phone, "We have received the reports of both the Screening Panel and the Appeal Panel. So, the party will take a position on it very soon."
And in Yenagoa, Sylva's chief press secretary Doifie Ola said his boss has not been screened out by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2012 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election.
He debunked reports claiming the Gubernatorial Screening Appeal Committee of the PDP headed by former Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi "considered Sylva ineligible to fly the party's flag for operating foreign accounts". He said, "Whatever the quality of the sources, this report is completely false. It is low quality fiction. It is a cheap lie sponsored by those who are afraid to meet Governor Sylva in the political field of contest, and their paid and unpaid agents, working collectively or severally. But then, we are not surprised as it follows a familiar pattern of a structured campaign of serial untruths about Governor Sylva, a fact we alerted the world about last weekend. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no basis whatsoever for the PDP to exclude Governor Sylva from the 2012 Bayelsa governorship race. He is the man to beat. Ownership and operation of a foreign account by a serving public officer is a criminal offence. No competent court of law has indicted Governor Sylva for operating a foreign account. He has no such charge pending anywhere in the world. God forbid! The PDP Gubernatorial Screening Committee for Bayelsa last Friday issued Governor Sylva a clearance certificate to participate in the party primaries slated for 19 November. That clearance certificate remains valid. It is true that the governor was at the National Headquarters of the PDP Sunday afternoon at the instance of the Gubernatorial Screening Appeal Committee. But as Sylva himself confidently told reporters after meeting with the committee, "the deliberations were fruitful." In the face of continuous lies against Governor Sylva, we appeal to our numerous supporters to continue to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding."
DailyTrust