PDP may sanction Bayelsa gov over litigationDenies ignoring court orderReps reject bid to remove troopsIT was a moment of collegial solidarity, albeit veiled. But for keen watchers of affairs in Bayelsa State, the message was not lost: The seven governors were at the Presidential Village yesterday to make peace between President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva.Also, indications have emerged that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may sanction Sylva for taking the party to court over the governorship primaries in the state.Besides, members of the House of Representatives yesterday turned down a call by Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, seeking the removal of men of the Armed Forces deployed in Bayelsa State.Sylva has been enmeshed in a embattle since he failed in his bid to participate in the last state governorship primaries of his party, the PDP held last week in Yenagoa, the state capital.In attendance at the meeting held at the First Lady's office wing were Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Ahmed Abdulfatai (Kwara), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi) and Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna State).The President's office has been undergoing renovation for some weeks now. It was last renovated in 2007.But the way the governors were discussing in groups after they left the meeting showed journalists who confronted them that the outcome did not meet their expectations.First to emerge from the meeting were Governors Sylva and Imoke. They went to a corner discussing. Few minutes later, other governors came out. But rather than leaving the venue as is usually the case, they broke into groups discussing in hushed tones.As they dispersed, journalists asked Sylva to speak on the outcome of the meeting. He stated: 'My chairman (Amaechi) will speak to you. I think my chairman will tell you that (about Bayelsa). He is the only one authorized to talk to you. Chairman of the Governors' Forum will talk to you.'But Amaechi initially declined journalists' questions, referring them to Lamido.Pressed further, the following dialogue ensued:What are you here for'Don't I have right to visit the President'Did you meet with the President to discuss Governor Sylva's issue'I'm not aware of that. Don't interview me because I don't know what you are talking about.What are you here for then'To see the President about Rivers State.And you came with your counterparts from other states'They came to see the President on their own state matters.What is so pressing that all of you came together'We didn't come together. We came differently.What did you discuss with the President'Why should I tell you about what I came to discuss about Rivers State'Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said the constitution of the party allowed for the use of internal party mechanism to address grievances and since the primaries had been conducted, all party members should take the outcome of the exercise in good faith.Reading from a text titled: 'Putting the records straight,' Alkali said: 'Now that the primaries have been concluded in Bayelsa State, we wish to put behind us all the issues relating to it and forge ahead with preparations for the elections. Let me however reiterate the fact that the powers to determine the candidature of any person in our party rest with the people as clearly stated in the constitution of the party. All party members are therefore expected to respect the constitution subject to the directions as provided by the leadership of the party. In other words, no member of the party, no matter how highly placed is exempted from obeying the rules and regulations of the party as provided for in the party constitution, the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.'He added: 'Any member of the party who is unhappy with some or any decisions of the party should use existing channels of communication within the party to seek redress. This reminder has become necessary in view of the provisions of our party's constitution inArticle 21 (i),which prohibits members from dragging the party to court without exhausting internal mechanisms for redress.''Article 21(l) of the party's constitution says: Subject to the provision of this constitution, the party shall have power to discipline any member who resorts to court action or litigation on any disputes or on any matter whatsoever concerning rights, obligations and duties of any member of the party without first availing himself or herself of the remedies provided by the party under this constitution.''Explaining that the party did not ignore a court order on the issue of Sylva, he said: 'What the party received from the court in the suit filed by Governor Timipre Sylva was a motion on notice with an order asking the party to show cause within 72 hours why the preservatory orders sought may not be granted on the return date which is November 22, 2011. The party immediately complied by filling process showing cause.
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