…APC SUMMONS ALAIBE, SYLVA TO ABUJA
Following his defeat at the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC)
primary election, the party’s governorship aspirant, Time Alaibe, is set
to join the Labour Party (LP) to realise his ambition, it was learnt on
Wednesday.
A source close to the former chairman of Niger Delta Development
Commission, who pleaded anonymity, said that Alaibe was disappointed by
the outcome of the governorship primary election conducted by the Adams
Oshiomhole committee in which former governor Timipre Sylva emerged
winner.
Alaibe once had a relationship with the LP on which platform he tried
unsuccessfully to run in 2003.
He was said to have complained bitterly about the process of the election
which was seen as “flawed, manipulated and unacceptable”, and as such he
would have to look elsewhere where he could possibly realize his
governorship ambition.
It was gathered that Alaibe has called for cancellation of the election
and conduct a fresh one as the only way forwaed, warning about the
consequence of what was he and his followers believed was an injustice.
The source informed that Alaibe would be addressing a world press
conference later today at which he would announce his latest decision to
switch camp.
A source said, “All of us in the Alaibe Campaign Organization are not
happy about the way and manner the primary election was rigged. You all
saw what happened and that cannot be regarded as a clean election. It was
a complete sham as you all witnessed it. The process was totally flawed
and manipulated to favour a particular individual and as such it is
unacceptable.
“In any case Alaibe has registered his complaint and the only way forward
as he said is to cancel it and conduct a fresh election but since they are
not ready to do that, we have to move on. Alaibe is definitely looking
towards Labour to realize his governorship ambition and we are all moving
with him as dedicated supporters.”
Asked to clarify the warning on consequence of the controversial election
for the APC, the source said in a situation where former governor, Sylva,
emerged winner can only mean that the PDP will likely win the December 5
election, stating that “Bayelsans are asking for change, not a return to
misrule, corruption and brigandage”.
He further said that Alaibe’s aspiration was to provide a new leadership
in the state, noting that in a situation whereby that change was made
impossible in the APC, moving to Labour was non-negotiable.
“We want to provide a credible alternative in Bayelsa State and that
alternative is Alaibe. Now with this development in the APC, Alaibe has no
option than to realize that hope in the Labour Party and as a principle,
we will neither vote for APC nor PDP. When we have our own platform, then
we know what to do”, the source stated.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Sylva has been reaching out to aggrieved
members of the APC in the state to work with him ahead of the election,
assuring them that “there is enough to go round” and as such they should
not desert the party.
It was also learnt that both Alaibe and Sylva have been summoned to Abuja
by the APC leadership in what was seen as a move towards a truce.
An inside source in APC said that the invitation was at the instance of a
national leader of the APC to broker peace. The position of the APC
national leadership on the outcome of the election is still being awaited.