Facts which may explain why the APC lost its victory in Bayelsa State are gradually coming to light.
The Port Harcourt Telegraph is learning from credible sources inside Bayelsa State that the alleged refusal of the Minister of Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva to accommodate the interest of PDP members who fought on the side of the APC may have tilted the balance in favour of Senator Douye Diri and his running mate.
Our sources reveal that a few factors played out before and after the elections in which the APC swept the polls in that State for the first time.
In the build up to the gubernatorial primaries of the PDP, Governor Seriake Dickson as he then was had refused to respect a power sharing pact drawn up by elders of the party.
The overbearing attitude of the pro-Dickson group enraged most supporters of former President Goodluck Jonathan who resolved to teach their old friends a lesson.
Within the period under review, President Muhammadu Buhari had equally assured his predecessor in office who has become very close to him that he would not in any way interfere in the politics of Bayelsa State.
The President kept his word even though there were fears at the time that such a commitment could cause the APC the loss of a significant South South state.
In the run off to the elections, there were mass defections from the PDP as angry party men loyal to the former president and his point men such as Chief Timi Alaibe and King Turner crossed over to the APC.
Those who did not make the APC their new home, according to what we have gathered, stayed within the PDP to frustrate it the more.
Chief Alaibe himself remained in court where he had gone to challenge the Diri team.
“Jonathan severally refused to meet with Dickson who was desperate to reconcile with his political Godfather after having his way in the primaries”, a knowledgeable source told this publication.
“Not less than five times Dickson could not go beyond the gate of the ex-President at Otuorke”, another source who chose to speak under cover added.
Recall that the APC had lost its victory to claims that David Lyon’s Deputy had allegedly relied on a forged certificate.
But given what is playing out at this time
The consequence, when it came, was the rejection of the Lyon victory by the courts on the principle of the joint ticket.
That position which was upheld by the Country’s Supreme Court gave back the State to the PDP even though it did not meet critical requirements specified by the Electoral Act.
Insiders say the alleged greed on the part of Sylva and his purported refusal to share the spoils of war conspired to turn the tide against the APC.
But that loss, many say, was a pay back for the slight that Sylva displayed towards some of the destiny helpers of the APC in Bayelsa State.
We are however to obtain an independent confirmation of these claims.
But we have learnt that the relationship between Sylva and Lyon who is currently serving as a member of the National Caretaker Committee of the APC has reportedly become strained.
With Jonathan’s increasing visibility along the corridors of power, some are already speculating that Sylva’s political sun may dim more quickly within the Bayelsa landscape.
As President, Jonathan had stopped Sylva from doing a second term. Should Jonathan throw his lot behind the APC on the road to 2023, Sylva may have to prepare for a political eclipse.