—Holds fresh primaries in Bayelsa today
By Bode Olagoke
Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said the process of its rescheduled primaries in Bayelsa state begin today, even as the party told the self-acclaimed winner of the nullified primaries and former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, to “go to court if he was not satisfied with the decision”.
National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, told newsmen yesterday at the party secretariat in Abuja that the National Working Committee (NWC), owes it a duty to provide a level playing ground for all those who aspire to offices in the party, adding that the process that led to last Tuesday’s primaries in Bayelsa could not meet the standards which the party set for itself.
According to Oyegun, “Bayelsa state, at Yenagoa, we had serious security challenges and so, the process could not meet the standards which this party has set for itself. So, we had no alternative but to stop the process by ensuring that the chairman of the panel was effectively moved out of the venue with the help of security agencies.
“We decided thereafter that there should be proper, fresh primaries. So today, the party decided, we have written to INEC appropriately, decided to conduct fresh primaries for the Bayelsa governorship election, beginning tomorrow.
“We are getting in touch with the Inspector general of police and all the other security agencies to please assist us in ensuring effective security.”
When asked to respond to the threat by Sylva, who claimed to have won the last exercise, the national chairman said Mr. Sylva “can go to court because that is what the court is meant for.”
Meanwhile, there was palpable tension at the national secretariat of the governing party yesterday in Abuja, following threat by a group of militants planning to stage a protest over the conduct of the last primaries in the state.
Blueprint noticed an unusual heavy presence of an anti-riot squad of the Nigerian Police and other stern-looking security men, armed with various weapons in and around the party secretariat located at Blantyre Street, Wuse 11 of the nation’s capital city.
The protesters were said to have planned to register their grievances over the conduct of the last primaries which, according to them, were marred by various malpractices.
A statement by the campaign organisation of an aspirant, Timi Alaibe, former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), however dissociated itself from the said protest.
“It has come to the notice of the Timi Alaibe Campaign Organisation that certain groups have printed T-shirts and vests in the name of Alaibe and are planning to stage violent protests in Yenagoa and at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja.
“We dissociate ourselves from such protests and call on the public, security agencies and the national leadership of the APC to please take note.”
Addressing journalists shortly after he submitted the report of the committee to the party’s NWC, Edo state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, confirmed that the cancelled primaries were signposted by gun shots, as well as the discovery of AK 47, Pump action and live ammunitions.
“I really don’t want to go back to those issues, these are not issues that transpired in a bedroom. I do hope that someday, we get to a point where even the media must defend the democratic space, concerning what happened in the stadium. I have seen independent reports, “gun shots were being fired”, “AK 47 were recovered (2 of them), Pump action, live ammunition”.
“These are not secrets that transpired, I am not the issue and I don’t want to be the issue. There are issues that are important to me. This one, I didn’t go there as a governor, I went there as a party member on a national assignment by the party and it is a great honour.
“I have done that job along with my colleagues to the best of my ability, and I have reported with the fear of God the truth as I know it and this has been signed by every member, other members of the committee, and we have forwarded the report.” Governor Oshiomhole said.
