Bayelsa APC leaders stage peaceful protest over suspension of state chairman.

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa, has faulted the suspension of the chairman of the party in Bayelsa state, Chief Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe, stating that the National working committee did not follow due process.

The party stakeholders, LGA Chairmen and about a hundred ward Chairmen of the party in the state, on Monday 7th August, and supporters amounting to thousands, occupied the All Progressives Congress, APC, secretariat in Yenagoa.

The protesters who also barricaded the entrance of the secretariat, causing a gridlock in the popular Yenagoa major road, were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “ Sylva is the problem of APC Bayelsa,” “Tiwei remains our State Chairman,” “Heineken is out to destroy APC,” " Lokpobiri is a card carrying  member of PDP", "Bayelsa is not for sale",among others.

The National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress had earlier announce the suspension of the Bayelsa State Chairman of the party, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, his deputy, Eddi Julius, and the state Secretary, Marlin Daniel .

The suspension came amid a lingering crisis between factions loyal to Chief Timipre Sylva and that of Orunimighe, day after the party in the state had conducted it's delegates election, which led to another series of internal wrangling, that made the Timipre Sylva faction rejecting the outcome of the election and were alleged to have purportedly conducted their own delegates elections in far away, Owerri, Imo state.

But the leaders in the state described the suspension as unlawful, and against party’s constitution without setting up a committee of inquiry.

Speaking to Bodmasnewsblog, the chairman of the state APC LGA chairmen forum of the party, Engr. Phil Arepade Oscar Takedi, said the NWC was not fair and was not a unanimous decision by the entire NWC, he layed blame on Timipre Sylva, Heineken Lokpobiri and some others, as the brains behind the ugly development, who according to him, were intent on destroying the party in the state.

"Chief Timipa Orunimighe still remains the recognised & legal Chairman of the party, Bayelsa State, the NWC did not follow the party rules, we were not consulted, we are aware that these are antics of Timipre Sylva and Lokpobiri, in their bid to put the party under their armpit, we are using this medium to tell the NWC and the public that we are not aware of any suspension or purported expulsion, let them sit down and reverse their decision, we will not accept it, unless they are intent in killing the party in the state", Arepadei added.

He further said that every suspension and expulsion should come via the organs of the State party and not directly from the National level.

Also a chieftain of the party, Preye Apreala who spoke on phone condemned the decision, noting that the former chairman only opposed imposition from Chief Timipre Sylva.

Apreala said the decision would kill the party, stressing that members do not have a say unlike what is happening in Rivers State.

Also, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, condemned the suspension of the Bayelsa State chairman of the party, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe, by the National Working Committee (NWC).

Frank, in his statement yesterday, said the party leadership had committed “unforgivable error” against its constitution.