Odigie-Oyegun cannot cancel Bayelsa APC primaries – Sylva; Disqualify Sylva from the race – party chieftain; APC primaries, a show of shame – PDP

NEDU MARK, YENAGOA

Following the controversies that attended the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primaries in Bayelsa state,the Chief Timipre Sylva Campaign for the Bayelsa State 2015 gubernatorial election has described as misleading and completely untrue reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Primary election has been cancelled or rescheduled.

In a statement issued in Yenagoa, the campaign maintained that the primary, which was conducted in accordance with the party’s rules and guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), and as such the party could not cancel its outcome.

The statement, signed on behalf of the campaign by Mr. Doifie Buokoribo said:“We want to state categorically that since the primary election was conducted according to the rules and duly won by Sylva, he remains the candidate of the APC in Bayelsa State and any statement to the contrary is mere rumour.

“The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, does not have the powers to unilaterally
annul a state primary election. We are even shocked that he allowed his name to be used when he has not even received the report from members of the electoral panel. Beyond the electoral panel’s report, there is also an Appeals Committee, which has the responsibility to examine complaints arising from the primary election.

The statement said, it is only after the Appeals Committee has concluded its job that the National Working Committee (NWC) will meet to consider all reports from the primary, including those of the security agencies.

“There are seven members of the panel. Let us say Governor Adams Oshiomhole has submitted his own
report through the pages of newspapers, there are six members left and the NWC has to sit and debate the reports.

Sylva said, “Oshiomhole lied that the election was marred by violence. There are pictures and videos to provethat he lied.

“There are pictures and video to show that Oshiomhole presided over the election and handed over the exercise to the Secretary of the Panel on the excuse that he was going to eat.

“It should also be pointed out that only Oshiomhole left the venue of the election and that the remaining six panel members and INEC officials remained in the venue till the winner was announced.

“Oshiomhole must answer some questions relating to his conducts, which completely compromised his
position as Chair of the election panel. Right from the beginning, it was obvious that Oshiomhole was working towards a pre-determined answer, unfortunately for him, the will of our people prevailed.

“Lastly, you cannot abort a baby that has already been born. The APC governorship primary has been concluded in Bayelsa State, a winner has emerged, and the winner is Sylva.

“We therefore ask our teeming supporters to remain calm and ignore the rumour that a new primary is
being scheduled for early next week.”
Following the electoral violence, irregularities and intimidations that marred the All Progressives Congress , APC Governorship primaries in Bayelsa state, a chieftain of the party Chief Richard Kpodu has called for the disqualification of Chief Timipre Sylva, an aspirant in the race.

Sylva, a former governor of the state was accused by the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman, APC governorship election Committee of threats to his life, claiming that he brought thugs to Samson Siasia Sports Complex venue of the primary to, literally, hold him hostage for hours before he could escape with the help of the men of the Joint Military Task force.
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Kpodu called on the national leadership of the party to disregard the purported emergence of Sylva as the party flag bearer.
The APC chieftain said the former governor masterminded the violence, harassment and intimidation of delegates, just as some delegates loyal to other aspirants were beaten up and locked out of the venue of the primaries.

Earlier, 14 aspirants for the APC governorship primaries, including Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, Preye Aganagba and Ebiimi Amgbare had called for the cancellation of the primaries over what they described as widespread irregularities and violence.
Alaibe and 13 others decried the beating and harassment of delegates by hired thugs , stressing that many of their delegates were locked out of the venue.

The over 1,300 policemen deployed to the venue of the election could not check the widespread violence unleashed by some youths who shot indiscriminately into the air scaring delegates , while journalists scampered for safety, thereby making the venue of the primaries unsafe.

Alaibe, some other aspirants and delegates loyal to them left the venue of the election at about 4.45 pm, leaving the complex scanty before Gov Adams was smuggled out by men of the JTF.

Also reacting to the lawlessness that characterized the APC primaries, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Bayelsa State has described the APC governorship primaries as a show of shame.
The ruling party in the state condemned the mayhem, bloodletting and the disruption of the existing peace and security in the State capital, Yenagoa.

The party also described APC as a party of desperate and power hungry individuals who do not have anything to offer Bayelsans, but are only craving for power to return the state to its dark days.

PDP in a statement by its State Secretary Keku Godspower, said that what happened at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, was a manifestation of the true make-up and the real intent of the politicians in APC.

Godspower insis Following the electoral violence, irregularities and intimidations that marred the All Progressives Congress , APC Governorship primaries in Bayelsa state, a chieftain of the party Chief Richard Kpodu has called for the disqualification of Chief Timipre Sylva, an aspirant in the race.

Sylva, a former governor of the state was accused by the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman, APC governorship election Committee of threats to his life, claiming that he brought thugs to Samson Siasia Sports Complex venue of the primary to, literally, hold him hostage for hours before he could escape with the help of the men of the Joint Military Task force.
.

Kpodu called on the national leadership of the party to disregard the purported emergence of Sylva as the party flag bearer.
The APC chieftain said the former governor masterminded the violence, harassment and intimidation of delegates, just as some delegates loyal to other aspirants were beaten up and locked out of the venue of the primaries.

Earlier, 14 aspirants for the APC governorship primaries, including Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, Preye Aganagba and Ebiimi Amgbare had called for the cancellation of the primaries over what they described as widespread irregularities and violence.
Alaibe and 13 others decried the beating and harassment of delegates by hired thugs , stressing that many of their delegates were locked out of the venue.

The over 1,300 policemen deployed to the venue of the election could not check the widespread violence unleashed by some youths who shot indiscriminately into the air scaring delegates , while journalists scampered for safety, thereby making the venue of the primaries unsafe.

Alaibe, some other aspirants and delegates loyal to them left the venue of the election at about 4.45 pm, leaving the complex scanty before Gov Adams was smuggled out by men of the JTF.

Also reacting to the lawlessness that characterized the APC primaries, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Bayelsa State has described the APC governorship primaries as a show of shame.
The ruling party in the state condemned the mayhem, bloodletting and the disruption of the existing peace and security in the State capital, Yenagoa.

The party also described APC as a party of desperate and power hungry individuals who do not have anything to offer Bayelsans, but are only craving for power to return the state to its dark days.

PDP in a statement by its State Secretary Keku Godspower, said that what happened at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, was a manifestation of the true make-up and the real intent of the politicians in APC.

Godspower insisted that APC would plunge Bayelsa back to the dark days of cultism, militancy and lawlessness as well as fritter away the resources of the State if it is returned to power.
ted that APC would plunge Bayelsa back to the dark days of cultism, militancy and lawlessness as well as fritter away the resources of the State if it is returned to power.