Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and core loyalist of the immediate Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has quit the campaign train of the party’s standard bearer Chief Timipre Sylva.
Sunny-Goli, the immediate past member representing Nembe-Brass Federal Constituency, said at a news conference in Yenagoa on Thursday that Sylva, his principal of over 20 years has no structure to defeat Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said he quit Sylva’s campaign train due to his lack of structure and capacity to win elections.
Sunny-Goli, who displayed a governorship race chat with incumbent Governor Douye Diri, said the Governor is expected to emerge victorious in the eight local government areas of the state during the forthcoming governorship election.
He claimed that Sylva had taken his loyalty of over 20 years for granted and as such he could not continue to support him.
He said though there are other members of the party that will support Sylvia, his support is no more with him hence he pulled out of his campaign train.
“I have told you earlier on that Timipre Sylvia is taking for granted my loyalty and support for over 20 years as well as undermining me.
“I have mentioned here during my presentation that my supporters and I across the state have decided on who to support when it comes to the governorship election come November 11, 2023 and we will know who we will support and in the appropriate time we will let you know where we are going to put our votes.
“As a politician, I have looked at the state and how the parties are preparing and it is my right to also say how I feel and I have told you as it stands that if the INEC were to conduct election, Governor Douye Diri will win all the eight LGAs by a landslide. And I am giving you a graphic position, so wait for me to tell you who I will support come November election.”
Sunny-Goli, who was accompanied to the media interactive session by scores of traditional chiefs and hundreds of supporters, dismissed the claims that he would defect to the ruling PDP in the state, insisting that he remains a member of the APC.
“Up to date, I am still a member of the APC. You know we just elected our President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and I am proud to be among those that supported him to succeed. With regard to issues with my principal, Chief Timipre Sylvia, they are issues that border on taking my loyalty of more than 20 years for granted. I have discussed with my supporters across the state, I have told them my reasons and they accepted.
“Also, I have my right to support whoever I want to support when the election comes. It is a tough decision for one to leave a place where one has stayed over 20 years, it is not easy but for some obvious reasons I have to take a decision for some people to know that my loyalty and support should not be taken for granted for whatever reason.
“Therefore, I am quitting the campaign train of Timipre Sylva and at the appropriate time, the world will know where my supporters and I are going to support.”
