68 ‘Sylva supporters’ arrested in Abuja

No fewer than 68 supporters of Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva were yesterday arrested by security agents in Abuja for allegedly planning to disrupt the peace.

Sylva is battling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following his exclusion from participating in the Bayelsa State PDP governorship primary.

One of his cases will come up today in Abuja.

There was tension in the Federal Capital Territory at the weekend over plans by Sylva’s supporters to storm the PDP National Secretariat today to protest against his disqualification.

Chairmen of the PDP in five local government areas yesterday raised the alarm in a statement in Abuja. According to them, the protest was meant to discredit the just-concluded governorship primary in Bayelsa State.

Those who signed the statement are Chairman, PDP in Kolokuma/Opukuma Local Government Area, Hon. Binalayefa Gagariga; Chairman PDP, Ekeremor, Mr. Cyril Sudoumowei Alhaji; Chairman, PDP Southern Ijaw, Mr. Ben Foreman;   Chairman, PDP Sagbama, Mr. Newyear Okoringa; and Chairman, PDP Ogbia, Mr. Baralatei Kuro.

The statement said: “We, the undersigned Local Government Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State Chapter categorically state as follows;

“That some overzealous persons loyal to Governor Timipre Sylva are sponsoring persons (some non-party members) to Abuja under the disguise of Party (PDP) ward Chairmen to demonstrate/protest against the generally accepted decision of the National Working Committee of our great party’s disqualification of Sylva to participate in the PDP gubernatorial primaries and also to discredit the just-concluded free and fair governorship primaries in Bayelsa State.”