Timipre Sylva, the APC flag bearer in the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa state was physically assaulted by an ex-militant leader following a scuffle over who'll be his deputy, The EagleOnline reports.

Since the the former governor emerged as candidate, there have been a relentless battle over who becomes his deputy as the jostle for the slot kept shifting from one supposedly anointed person to the other.

It's believed that Sylva had all along promised no fewer than six persons his running mate’s slot but none of them has so far been named.

The state Chairman of the APC, Chief Tiwe Oruminigbe, and an ex-militant leader, General Africa, were involved in the fracas.

Orumingbe was one of those initially favoured as he reportedly mobilized all delegates to vote for Sylva at the primary, which he won.

To demonstrate his seriousness, Oruminigbe was said to have gone to Sylva’s Abuja home with ex-militant leader, General Africa, to confront Sylva on the issue.

At the meeting there were a lot of hot verbal exchanges and Sylva was said to have received a hot slap on his cheeks for what was said to be a result of his “deception and betrayal”.

But the open confrontation soon resulted into heated argument and in the process, General Africa was said to have slapped Sylva and a full blown fight erupted.

An eyewitness account said the ensuing fight caused the destruction of some household items.

Following the attack, reports say Sylva as the leader of the APC in Bayelsa State was already plotting to remove Oruminigbe as state chairman.