The leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has faulted the decision by some National Leaders of the Party led by the Former Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri to adopt zoning formular for positions ahead of the ward, local and state Congresses of the party in the state.
Bayelsa APC in a statement signed by the State Acting Chairman, Hon. Joseph Fafi, said APC members in the state should ignore the purported zoning of Party positions including the Party Chairmanship to the West Senatorial District of the State.
Hon. Fafi stated that apart from the fact that no official stakeholders meeting to zone party offices ever held , the guidelines allows only persons from the Central Senatorial District to contest for the office of Chairman of the Party in the state.
According to him, ” This is a NEC decision and no stakeholder can alter it. He further stated those behind the the publications are part of a 3rd force working against the Peace and stability of the state as well as the re-lection of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
He stated that Local committees to conduct the Ward and LGA congresses are being set up and assured all party faithful of a stronger and all inclusive APC in the state.
It would be recalled that reports gathered revealed that the Leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State led by the Former Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri in their bid to restructure the party in the state after the conduct of the ward, local and State Congresses which commenced on May 5th, have adopted zoning of positions.
While the conduct of the ward,local and state congresses are expected to adopt affirmative action on the amicable resolution taken among stakeholders.
The positions to be filled at the State Executive Committee of the party are expected to follow zoning. The positions are zoned according to local government councils of the State.
Reports indicated that five persons have been listed as contenders for the various positions in the and other Mr. Yekini Nabena, a member of the National Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and four other members of the Party in the State.
Other party members who declared their readiness to contest for the State Chairmanship of the Party are the incumbent Acting Chairman, Deacon Joseph Fafi, the one time Chairman of the Conference of Political Parties (CNPP), Hon. Sunday Frank Okputu, the Former Aide to Governor Timipre Sylva, Hon. Lucky Yeboa and one time State Commissioner of Finance, Hon. Steven Oguola.
