22nd September, 2015
Former Bayelsa governor, Timipre Sylva, former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe will contest on Tuesday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital to determine who will represent their party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election slated for December 5.
Also contesting are a former House of Representatives member, Warman Ogoriba; a former Federal Government Permanent Secretary, Imoro Okubo; Senator Clever Ikisikpo; and Charity Vedelago.
Other key aspirants in the running are Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, a retired director and one-time adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan when he (Jonathan) was governor of Bayelsa as well as Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio.
In preparation for the primary, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State led a seven-man Electoral Committee to meet with the 19 governorship aspirants of the APC in Bayelsa on Monday.
Oshiomhole briefed the aspirants on the guidelines to be used for party’s governorship primaries.
Oshiomhole told the aspirants that the primaries should be seen as a family affair, noting that, the rules on the conduct of the primaries were not different from those used in Kogi State, and the national primaries of the party.
Meanwhile, Police in Bayelsa state on Monday said they were fully prepared for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in the state scheduled for Tuesday.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Asinim Butswat, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that the command had taken measures to ensure adequate security during the exercise.
Butswat assured the party’s delegates, aspirants and officials of maintenance of law and order, saying, ‘’we have started deployment of our men and we shall continue deployment tomorrow.
“Our men have been sent to the party’s secretariat and other strategic locations within the state, and by tomorrow, we will still deploy our men to the venue.
“We do not envisage any problem because it is strictly a party affair, and we expect the party members to conduct their affairs in a civilised manner.
“On our part, we shall leave nothing to chance as we are fully on ground to do our job in a professional manner,” he said.
He said that the command had adequate manpower for the exercise scheduled to hold at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa.
Some 19 aspirants are jostling for the party’s ticket for the December 5 governorship election in the state.