Sylva, New PDP members in Bayelsa defect to APC

There are strong indications that a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva and his loyalists in the New Peoples Democratic Party, have finally dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress.

Sylva, who was denied a second term ticket by the PDP, was said to have taken the decision as a last resort to return to political relevance.

The former governor was conspicuous in all the gatherings of the New PDP that culminated in the merger of the splinter group, including five PDP governors with the APC on Tuesday.

He also posed for pictures along with the defecting members of the PDP after the merger was concluded in Abuja.

A source close to Sylva, but craving anonymity, said the former governor had toed the path of his leaders in the  New PDP.

The source said, “His fate is known. You know he was a principal member of the  New PDP and he was involved in all the meetings and negotiations before the merger.

“He contributed in midwifing the process. If the  New PDP has joined the APC and ceases to exist, it means he has also joined the APC. He cannot back out of the decision of the New PDP.

“Also, you remember that PDP dumped Sylva and denied him despite all the sacrifices he made for the party including his contributions to the election of President Goodluck Jonathan. So, if Sylva and other like-minded people decided to dump the party for APC, his action is justified.”

He also said what could have constituted an obstacle to Sylva’s defection to APC had been removed.

The source said, “You know Sylva has a case in the Court of Appeal against his unlawful denial by PDP to contest for a second term. That would have been a hindrance for him to follow the decision of the  New PDP.

“But after due consultations with his legal team, his lawyers said the coast was clear for him since what was happening now had no bearing on the case. All the papers for the matter had been filed by the parties and this new development cannot affect the case.”

It was gathered that the new development had caused some ripples in the state chapter of the PDP with fears that some known political office holders in the state could defect to APC with Sylva.

PUNCH NG