Violence Mars APC Governorship Primary In Bayelsa

The primary election of the All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State, is marred by violence and intimidation.

The primary taking place at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex started on a controversial note with some aspirants calling for the cancellation of the exercise.

Before 8am, thugs invaded the entrance of the venue.

The thugs hurled stones at delegates who lined up to be screened for the exercise, creating chaos and panic in the area.

But over 1,300 security operatives deployed in the venue battled and eventually restored the peace.

Most of the delegates were shut out of the exercise and were not allowed access to the venue of the primary.

When the accreditation of the delegates started, most persons who presented themselves for the exercise were said to be fake delegates in possession of cloned voter cards.

The Master of Ceremonies announced that some persons with cloned cards had been arrested and handed over to the police.

The rowdiness of the exercise was blamed on the lateness of the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who arrived the area at about 12pm.

The convoy of Oshiomhole came in the midst of the controversies, two minutes after one of the top contenders and former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, arrived the area.

The Edo State Governor immediately intervened and held a meeting with members of his committee.

After meeting with his committe members, Oshiomhole also met with all the aspirants leading to speculations that the primary could be postponed.

Shortly before the arrival of the committee chairman, the former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Timi Alaibe, Preye Aganaba and Ebitimi Amgbare briefed the press and called for the cancellation of the exercise.

Alaibe said, “You have seen the rancorous process leading to the primary. The process is being marred by irregularities, violence, intimidation and complete disrespect for aspirants, agents and party officials.

“This is an enactment of negative history for a party that stands on the mantra of change. I think something is missing somewhere and we need to get it right. We have had delegates perceived to be loyal to us, threatened, beaten, wounded since morning.

“Quite a lot of people you see here are not delegates. Most of the authentic delegates are outside. We need to put a stop to this process. We will meet with the chairman of the committee and ask for the cancellation of the process.

” Some other times we can get the security dynamics right so that we can get the methodology of the primary right. We cannot continue with this process.”

Also, Aganaba described the process as shameful.

He said it failed to represent the values and principles of the party.

Aganaba noted, “I am ashamed of this process. I was a member of the Presidential APC in Lagos. It was a successful convention and when the winner emerged, all other aspirants supported the winner. But the process today is flawed.

“It is a pity that the chairman Adams Oshiomhole is not here. We have been here since 8am and it is 12pm and he is not here. Most of the delegates here are fake. I toiled for this party and sweated for it to be established in Bayelsa and if l am asking for the cancellation of this exercise, they should know how serious l am. I beleive we should even move the primary to another state.”

But Sylva said he had not received any complaints from his agents. He added that he was hailed by the people because of his outstanding credentials.

He urged delegates and the aspirants to conduct themselves peacefully.

“I am not an agent and if there are people with cloned cards, we will make sure they are arrested. I was part of the arrangements put in place. Among all the aspirants, l am the only one with the credentials; someone who has done a term here.

“You know how unjustly I was treated in office. So, their sense of justice is still burning. Delegates should conduct themselves peacefully just as I advise all the aspirants to conduct themselves peacefully.”

The meeting between Oshiomhole and the aspirants which began about 1pm was still going on as of 2pm.