The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on its governorship candidate in the 2015 election, Chief Timipriye Sylva, to work with the state executive of the party.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Timipa Orunimighe, and the Secretary, Daniel Marlin, released in Abuja on Sunday.

According to the statement, the former governor should close ranks with the state executive by giving them deserving respect and ensuring he works with them.

It debunked reports that the executive was working with the state governor, Chief Seriake Dickson, as part of his purported plan to defect to the APC, adding that members of the state executive of the party never believed in the ideals of the governor.

“Bringing the name of Gov. Dickson into the lingering crisis in the state is a way to blackmail the state executive in the eyes of the national leaders of the party and also distract people's attention from the real issues.

“Sylva should respect and work with the state executive, carry them along and work with other stake holders.

“We reckon that that is not too much to ask for. It has nothing to do with Dickson; rather than do the right thing, he is wasting resources on cheap blackmail and outright lies about the true situation of things in the state.

“A simple intra-party affair that can be resolved by getting all parties to a roundtable has been difficult for Sylva to do,’’ the statement quoted Orunimighe as saying.

It accused Sylva of “notoriously fraternizing with leaders of opposition parties” alleging also that his federal appointment nominee lists reflected names of staunch members of the opposition until recently.

The statement admonished Sylva to refrain from a campaign of calumny against APC in Bayelsa, and insisted that he would remain on suspension until the report of ongoing investigation was ready. (NAN)

•Photo shows Ex-Gov. Sylva.