Ebebi, Set to Tackle Sylva in the 2023 Bayelsa Governorship Election.

All is not rosy in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bayelsa state as more internal battles unfold after their unexpected defeat at the last Governorship elections.

Key members of the party have expressed displeasure and concern over the current state of the party which rather than improving on previous behaviors after similar defeats, is sadly engrossed in a power tussle and quest to control the party structure.

Before, during and after the 2019 Bayelsa Governorship election, It was widely reported that the botched takeover plan by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, which informed his handpicking of Senator Degi Eremienyon as the running mate of David Lyon was to prepare the grounds for his return and take over in 2023 as governor.

It is equally true that the Minister has not in any way debunked or denied these facts despite his several statements and appearances in the media space.

In another development, a former deputy governor of the state, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi from Ekeremor LGA, who decamped from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to APC during the 2019 Governorship election in Bayelsa State, has indicated interest to run for the vacant Bayelsa West Senatorial District seat under the APC platform. However, the Party leader in the State, chief Timipre Sylva, is opposed to the candidature of Chief Ebebi having insisted on maintaining the existing rotation formula in the district which disallows another candidate from Ekeremor LGA to run for the senatorial seat since Hon. Fred Agbedi from Ekeremor LGA, is already serving as the member representing the district in the Federal House of Representatives.

This position of the former minister therefore implies that the party will support a Senatorial candidate but that candidate must come from Sagbama LGA.

The decision did not go down well with the former deputy governor who historically had been in a political feud with the Minister. It is however obvious that Chief Ebebi has decided to continue with his desire to pursue his ambition of securing the senatorial seat and then the APC governorship ticket come 2023.

Chief Ebebi has expressed hopes that he would challenge and defeat Chief Sylva as the shameful failures of the party in the Governorship elections since 2011 in the state, coupled with the statewide rejection the minister has recieved as well as the national embarrassment he caused the party at the last election, wounds which all APC faithfuls are yet nursing, has revealed that he, the Minister, was no longer capable of leading the party in the State.

His recent endorsements by some youth bodies in Yenagoa recently sends a strong message that the former deputy governor reserves no apologies for discarding any existing rotation formula.

It is not however clear yet who Chief Sylva intends to flag as candidate from Sagbama LGA. Party leaders have expressed fears at the minister’s habit of foisting candidates and pray he doesn’t impose another candidate with conflicting credentials which will simply give the PDP a land slide victory especially if someone like the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson decides to run.

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