The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has called on Governor Douye Diri to begin preparations for his handover.
The APC emphasized its commitment to securing a resounding victory for its gubernatorial candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, on November 11.
According to a statement from Mr. Tamaratare Zuokumor, the party’s Assistant Publicity Secretary, all APC stakeholders are now more unified than they were in 2019 when the party defeated Diri in the polls. Zuokumor affirmed that the Sylva/Maciver ticket is a collective effort by Bayelsa people, transcending party lines, in their quest to bring positive change to the state. He also stated that Diri’s recent complimentary remarks about the APC were futile attempts at patronization.
“The party is aware Gov. Diri is merely trying to make it seem our leader and governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, is the collective enemy of both the APC and PDP. This is lying at psychopathic levels.
“Sylva is the governorship candidate of APC and not APGA, so a sane person cannot say he is fighting Sylva and not APC. When Sylva triumphs at the polls, as he will, it is the APC that ascends to power, not any other party.
“We wish to state categorically that our party is more united and stronger than it has ever been, stronger and more united even than in 2019 when we trounced Gov. Diri at the polls.
“Our impressive support base, our party leadership and our able stakeholders are fully committed to the Timipre Sylva/Joshua Maciver ticket and all hands are on deck to liberate Bayelsa state, including thousands of PDP members with good conscience who have chosen state over politics.”
Zuokumor said the party forbade Diri from making further patronizing statements about the APC, adding “one cannot dislike you and love your child; it is a futile, manipulative attempt at a Trojan horse”.
He added: “Diri should reserve his false patronage and rather tell Bayelsans why he deserves a second tenure after a horrendous four years.
“The APC will win this election in a landslide, including Gov. Diri’s own LGA, Kolokuma-Opokuma, where he has been loudly rejected by his own people and where crushing defeat for him is now sure.
“The face of Bayelsa state will be restored and our great party, the APC, loved by the good people of our state and deemed a credible alternative, will coast to victory come Nov. 11”.
