From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The declaration of Operation Take Over Bayelsa State by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has rattled the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) in the state.
Sylva speaking over the weekend during a stakeholders meeting convened to reconcile aggrieved party members held at the state secretariat said the All Progressive Congress (APC) is poised to take over Bayelsa State.
According to him, the 2023 general election is crucial for the APC in the state as it would pave the way for the party to record another victory at the governorship election later in 2023.
Sylva who reminded the party members how the unity of the party was instrumental to the party’s victory at the November 16 2019 governorship election declared that the APC would show that it is the dominant party in the state.
“We are approaching a very critical election. This election is particularly important because it is a precursor to the other election that we must win in this election. The last time this party stood as one and delivered and there is nobody that would argue with that. Even the Supreme Court did not say we did not deliver because nobody can challenge the victory because it was a very clean victory but unfortunately for reasons best known to our judicial officers we were denied that government.
“ But I am very certain that the APC in Bayelsa State still has that capacity to deliver. We still have that muscle to deliver. And this time it would be operation take over because we would not only deliver the governorship but we will take over the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate. That is why this time it is called Operation Take Over. Before we took part of the House of Assembly, part of the House of Representatives and part of the Senate but this time we are going to take all. Tell everybody that without equivocation, APC is the dominant party in Bayelsa State.
The State Chairman of the party, Dr Dennis Otiotio said the all-inclusive meeting with leaders from the eight local government areas was convened to see how the party can brainstorm to ensure victory for all candidates of the party in the 2023 general elections.
However the PDP in its reaction through the publicity secretary, Mr Ebiye Ogoli described Sylva’s declaration as a joke noting that the APC in the state does not have the required structure to actualise its victory.
“APC members keep joining the PDP since we came on board in 2020. Before the 2023 election, we will wind down the APC in the state completely. The PDP remains the only viable political party in the state,” he said.