Violence, irregularities leads to cancellation of APC Bayelsa primaries

The primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State, which was meant to hold today, Tuesday, was again postponed after violence and intimidation erupted at the venue.

Before the primary election started, some aspirants had already called for the cancellation of the exercise.

Thugs invaded the entrance of the venue, throwing stones at delegates who were lined up to be screened for the exercise, thereby creating chaos and panic in the area.

It took over 1,300 security operatives to restore peace to the area but most of the delegates were already shut out of the exercise.

Later on, 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.

It was later announced that they had been handed over to the police.

The former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe, Preye Aganaba and Ebitimi Amgbare, were part of those who called for the cancellation of the exercise.

“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.”

Aganaba described the process as shameful, stating that it failed to represent the values and principles of the party.

“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.”

 

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