By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—A faction of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Bayelsa State, yesterday, flayed the former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva over the reception held weekend to receive scores of defectors from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying that the action was illegal and a desperate attempt to provide cover for corrupt politicians against possible prosecution by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The APC faction led by Chief Richard Kpodo, said though the party was focused on the desired change in the governance of the state and was mobilizing Bayelsans for the governorship poll in 2016, the reception held to receive Sylva’s former aides had made the party a dumping ground for corrupt aides seeking protection against possible prosecution by the present administration.

Timipre Sylva

Kpodo emerged the factional Chairman of the party, after the crisis of confidence that rocked the party over alleged cases of diversion of party funds and expulsion of some persons from the party by the Chief Tiwe Orunimighe led state executive of the state.

Speaking at an interactive session in Yenagoa with media executives in the state, he noted that the mini-rally held at the newly unveiled party secretariat of the party at Baybridge area of the state capital was illegal.

“The defectors, purportedly received by the sacked Chairman of the APC, is an illegality and done to provide cover for bands of corrupt politicians and fake protection against prosecution by the administration of President Buhari,” he said.

“The APC’s stand against corrupt associate of the last administration of Goodluck Jonathan is known and must be prosecuted. As a decent state executive devoid of past indisputable corrupt acts of the former executives, we considered the attempt to make the APC a dumping ground unacceptable and vexatious,” he said.

“APC in the state will not allow the party to become dumping ground for desperate politicians in need of protection from prosecution. We are out to maintain due process as provided in the constitution of the party. All aspiring defectors must obtain clearance at the ward through the state level of the party.

“These defectors must show clear record of performance from the parent party before official presentation to the loyalists and progressive supporters of the APC. Those accepted recently are bandwagons seeking refuge from the law. We call on Buhari to order a detailed investigation into the past acts of fraud and embezzlement by these decampees and their associates.”