The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Monday that last week\u2019s
\ngovernorship primary in Bayelsa State failed to meet its acceptable
\nstandard of free and fair election and therefore will not stand.<\/p>\n
The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, however refused to
\nspeak on the contribution of the party to the list of ministers, assuring
\nNigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will do what he needs to do \u201cat
\nthe right time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Addressing journalists at the end of its National Working Committee
\nmeeting in Abuja, Odigie -Oyegun said the party has decided to fix fresh
\nprimary for Tuesday in Yenagoa, the state capital.<\/p>\n
Oyegun was accompanied to the briefing by the Deputy Chairman, North and
\nSouth, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, Engr. Segun Oni, National Vice Chairman,
\nSouth -South, Prince Hillaard Etta, the National Publicity Secretary,
\nAlhaji Lai Mohammed and National Women Leader, Hajia Ramatu Tijanni Ali<\/p>\n
The APC chairman said: \u201cThe main issue that occupied us today at the NWC
\nmeeting has to do with the Bayelsa governorship primary. We want to make
\nit very clear that as a party, the APC guides very jealously its record of
\nfree and fair primary.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NWC sees it as a duty to provide a level playing ground for all those
\nwho aspire to offices in this party. Unfortunately, in Bayelsa State, we
\nhad serious security challenges and so, the process could not meet the
\nstandard which this party has set for itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we have no alternative than to stop the process by ensuring that the
\nchairman of the panel was effectively moved out of the venue with the help
\nof security agencies. We decided thereafter that there should be a proper
\nfresh primary.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo today, the party decided and we have written to INEC appropriately
\nthat the party has decided to conduct fresh primary for the Bayelsa
\ngovernorship election beginning on Tuesday. So, the process for fresh
\nprimary will begin on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are getting in touch with the Inspector General of Police and other
\nsecurity agencies to please assist us by ensuring effective security.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sylva\u2019s campaign organisation described as misleading and completely
\nuntrue reports that the primaries have been cancelled or rescheduled.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued in Yenagoa, the campaign organisation maintained
\nthat the disputed primary, which was won by Sylva, was conducted in
\naccordance with the party\u2019s rules and guidelines set by the Independent
\nNational Electoral Commission (INEC) and as such the party has no basis to
\ncancel its outcome.<\/p>\n
The statement, signed on behalf of the campaign by Mr. Doifie Buokoribo,
\nsaid: \u201cWe want to state categorically that since the primary election was
\nconducted according to the rules and duly won by Sylva, he remains the
\ncandidate of the APC in Bayelsa State and any statement to the contrary is
\nmere rumour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, does not have
\nthe powers to unilaterally annul a state primary election. We are even
\nshocked that he allowed his name to be used when he has not even received
\nthe report from members of the electoral panel.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeyond the electoral panel\u2019s report, there is also an Appeals Committee,
\nwhich has the responsibility to examine complaints arising from the
\nprimary election. It is only after the Appeals Committee has concluded its
\njob that the National Working Committee (NWC) will meet to consider all
\nreports from the primary, including those of the security agencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are seven members of the panel. Let us say Governor Adams
\nOshiomhole has submitted his own report through the pages of newspapers,
\nthere are six members left and the NWC has to sit and debate the reports.<\/p>\n
\u201cOshiomhole lied that the election was marred by violence. There are
\npictures and videos to prove that he lied. There are pictures and video to
\nshow that Oshiomhole presided over the election and handed over the
\nexercise to the Secretary of the Panel on the excuse that he was going to
\neat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should also be pointed out that only Oshiomhole left the venue of the
\nelection and that the remaining six panel members and INEC officials
\nremained in the venue till the winner was announced.<\/p>\n
\u201cOshiomhole must answer some questions relating to his conducts, which
\ncompletely compromised his position as chair of the election panel. Right
\nfrom the beginning, it was obvious that Oshiomhole was working towards a
\npre-determined answer, unfortunately for him, the will of our people
\nprevailed.<\/p>\n
\u201cLastly, you cannot abort a baby that has already been born. The APC
\ngovernorship primary has been concluded in Bayelsa State, a winner has
\nemerged, and the winner is Sylva. We therefore ask our teeming supporters
\nto remain calm and ignore the rumour that a new primary is being scheduled
\nfor early next week.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Monday that last week\u2019s governorship primary in Bayelsa State failed to meet its acceptable standard of free and fair election and therefore will…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n