…Accuses Former Gov of Using Thugs
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has described the reported emergence
of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, as the All Progressive
Congress gubernatorial candidate in the state as a “huge joke.”
Oshiomhole was the Chairman of an electoral committee set up by the
national leadership of APC to conduct the governorship primaries in
Bayelsa State.
The governor said Sylva was not declared winner of the primaries, hence no
Certificate of Return was issued to him.
Speaking to reporters in Benin City, Oshiomhole said the purported
emergence of Sylva would not alter the rules of the party.
He stated that other aspirants agreed to follow the guidelines released by
the national leadership of the party, but Sylva insisted that the
primaries should be conducted without accreditation.
He said Sylva insisted that it was wrong for the national Secretariat to
conduct the primaries and that it was the function of the party leadership
in the state.
Oshiomhole said,”By the way Sylva conducted himself, it shows that he does
not have faith in this democratic process. Sylva insisted that he founded
APC in Bayelsa State and therefore he cannot understand why people who
didn’t fund the party have this right to contest on the platform of the
party.”
“The reported election of Sylva is a joke because I am the returning
officer in that primaries and which is why I function as the Chairman of
the Election Committee. The next person is the Secretary. Neither the
Secretary nor myself announced any result. It is customary that when
election is conducted, the winner of the election is issued a Certificate
of Return. As far as I know no such certificate was issued.”
“If a member of the committee purport they are now selling results, that
is their funeral. That does not in any way alter the rules of the party.
Sylva can declare himself but none of this can substitute for due process
which the party is committed to. Anybody who wanted to do a shoddy job
will not ask people like me to be part of that exercise because I cannot
be used for fraud.”
“The committee was virtually held hostage including my humble self. These
thugs were supervised by one of the aspirants, Mr. Timipre Sylva. Sylvia
said to my face that we cannot leave the venue of the exercise unless we
carry out the exercise without accreditation as prescribed by the National
Secretariat.”
“Sylva told me that the committee will not leave unless we were ready to
conduct the primaries without recourse to accreditation. I was not in a
position to amend the guidelines nor was I ready to submit to
intimidation.”
“When it was clear that they had mobilized the thugs and the thugs in
collaboration with the police took over the stadium, the police left the
stadium open and it made the thugs gained access into the venue.
“I have to call on Abuja to prevail on the JTF to provide me with security
to leave the venue of the primaries. The thugs have effectively blocked
the gate under the instructions of Sylva.”