An aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Bayelsa State, Festus Daumiebi has rejected the result of the party’s primary election for the November 11, 2023 governorship election.
Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, emerged as the APC governorship candidate defeating Daumiebi and four other contenders in the exercise conducted on Friday and Saturday.
Sylva was declared winner by the chairman of the APC primary election committee for Bayelsa, Major-Gen. Ahmed Jibrin (retd.), who announced the outcome at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa on Saturday.
The former Minister polled 52, 061 votes to clinch the party’s ticket; former militant leader, Joshua Maciver came second with 2, 078 votes; the APC governorship candidate in 2019, David Lyon got third position with 1,584 votes; while Prof. Ongoebi Etebu, Isikima Johnson and Daumiebi scored 1, 277; 584; and 557 votes, respectively.
Daumiebi, in a statement he issued yesterday in Yenagoa, rejected the result and demanded the cancellation of the primaries.
He alleged that the election did not take place in the wards across the state as party officials who should have conducted the exercise did not turn up and electoral materials were not available for voters.
The governorship aspirant while calling on his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, said that he would challenge the outcome of the primary through legal means.
“Notice is hereby given to the general public, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State and the National Executive Council that I Festus Daumiebi Sunday, governorship aspirant of the APC reject in its entirety what was announced as the result of the party primary election.
“Let it be known that on Friday the 14th of April 2023 some card-carrying members of the APC turned out at various wards to cast their votes in what was promised to be a free, fair and credible primary election.
“They waited all day but sadly there was no election in the wards across the state as officials of the party who were sent to conduct the election failed to turn up. Neither were their electoral materials seen in the said Wards,” Daumiebi stated.
He added, “In selected places they tried to pass off a simulation of an election, the process was undermined, marred by irregularities and heavily compromised. Party officials failed to abide by the party guidelines and agreed processes.
“Upon reaching the party secretariat on Saturday 15th April, I was shocked to observe that ‘heavy numbers have been concocted for their preferred aspirant and then a return was made in the open as programmed.
“Nevertheless, let me express my profound appreciation to all those who worked tirelessly for the new Bayelsa project. Though you were deprived of the opportunity to vote, do not despair. I urge you to remain calm and law-abiding as we shall explore all legal means to challenge the outcome,” Daumiebi added.
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