Bayelsa Guber: Crisis Strikes APC As Party Decides Mode Of Primary

Ahead of Bayelsa State governorship election, controversy continues to trail the outcome of the All Progressives Congress, stakeholders meeting seeking for the mode of election to employ for the party’s primary.

A report has it the majority of the stakeholders chose the direct mode of primaries even though the meeting ended in a rowdy session.

Engr. Preye Aganaba and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri argued that the meeting ended in a stalemate because the Chairman of the Party, Mr Jothan Amos, failed to follow the due process at summoning the stakeholders’ meeting and adoption of the mode of primaries for the party.

One of the aspirants, Engr. Preye Aganaba, who spoke through the Director-General of his Governorship campaign, Nestor Binabo, said “though the meeting ended in a stalemate, even with a consensus pattern, we will carry the day. Bayelsa people want us and we know quite alright that they are yearning for change.”

“The Chairman of the party didn’t handle the matter well. The State Working Committee of the party should have drawn up an agenda and bring it to the stakeholders meeting for adoption and discussion. This process was not followed and according to the APC constitution the meeting was technically unconstitutional.”

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who spoke through his Director of Media and Publicity of his Governorship campaign team, Perez Peretu, stated that the chairman of the party needs to summon another stakeholders meeting, “Even if we disagree, we will eventually agree”.

Hon Preye Influence Oseke in his reaction stated that the claims that the meeting ended in a stalemate were not true, he further stated that there was no stalemate because the majority of the people supported the direct mode of primaries.

“In a meeting, it is normal to have opposing views, but the majority will have their way. The minority will also be heard, we already adopted the direct primaries mode for the governorship election through voice votes and that is the position of the party.”

On whether this could cause division in the state, he said: “Of course that is expected but as a party we will overcome it, we’re advising party faithful to work together to forge a common understanding to deliver the various units in the election.”

“Many of the SWC members including the Deputy Chairman and the State Legal officer kicked against the action of the State Chairman and accuses him of not summoning a meeting of the party exco to discuss and adopt the mode of primary before the stakeholder meeting.”