Sylva, ex Bayelsa governor
Timi Alaibe
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have anointed   former governor, Timipre Sylva, as its candidate for the December 5 Bayelsa State governorship election, it was learnt last night. The decision was said to have been taken in Abuja after series of meetings with both Sylva and his closest rival, former NDDC boss, Timi Alaibe failed to reach a compromise.

However, Alaibe was said to have  rejected the decision, contending  that the question of who emerges as the governorship candidate can only be settled through a transparent primary election.

TheLedgerng gathered  that the decision to finally give Sylva the nod was to avoid a possible bitter outcome that may be engendered by a primary election especially with the muscle flexing between Sylva and Alaibe.

Sources close to the party  informed TheLedgerng  that Sylva’s endorsement was to compensate him for holding aloft the party's flag in Bayelsa even when the party's foundation was still shaky.. Additionally, the party leadership believe he has the requisite structure to persecute the election more than all other aspirants.

However, the decision to anoint Sylva as a consensus candidate has triggered discontent as Alaibe and his supporters have kicked against the decision which they describe as arbitrary and undemocratic

Both  sources at the meeting and a close political associate of Alaibe confirmed the development, noting “It is true former governor Timipre Sylva was unanimously adopted as our consensus candidate and the leaders present at the meeting gave reasons for their decision. You know we have about 9 aspirants in Bayelsa,  but Sylva and Alaibe are those with winning potentials. However, in the judgement of our leaders, Sylva was adopted. As a compromise, they also offered  Alaibe as ministerial portfolio,  but he bluntly rejected the offer. He said they should all go for  the already scheduled  primary.''

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Alaibe was already considering his  next move which does not exclude defecting to another party. Sources close to his Campaigns headquarters discloe that  he may end up running on the platform of the Labour Party if the APC leadership refuses to allow the gubernatorial candidate emerge through a free and fair primary

“Without a free and fair primary, Alaibe will likely run on the ticket of the Labour Party. He cannot be made to step down at every election and I can assure you that he may eventually defect to Labour and  mobilize his supporters to realize his ambition”, the source hinted.

The APC  National Vice-Chairman, Chief Hillard Etta has however denied the endorsement of Sylva. ''Nobody has anointed Sylva, the party is going for its governorship primary in Bayelsa on Tuesday" he said in a telephone chat