Chief David Lyon, has emerged the standard flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the November 16 Bayelsa State Governorship election.
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According to the results announced by the Collation Officer, Senator Emmanuel Ocheja, the oil magnate, Chief Lyon polled a total of 42,138, votes to defeat five other aspirants.

Mrs Desiye Nsirim, came a distant second with 1,533, while Chief Ebitimi Amgbare came third with 633 votes.

The immediate past Minister of state for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, polled 571 votes to come fourth while Prof Ongoebi Etebu and Prince Preye Aganaba got 564 and 354 votes respectively.

Senator Ocheja, who was flanked by the other national and state officers of the party, said he was standing in for the Returning Officer and Governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Gaidam, whom he disclosed was unavoidable absent.

He pointed out that six aspirants contested the election, adding that the mode of the primaries was ‘Direct Primaries’ ‘Option A-4, ‘ adopted by the state stakeholders and leaders of the party in the state and the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party.

APC BAYELSA PRIMARY RESULTS

Chief Lyon polled a total of 42,138

Mrs Desiye Nsirim, came a distant second with 1,533

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, polled 571

Prof Ongoebi Etebu- 564

Prince Preye Aganaba- 354

Timi Alaibe concedes defeat, write Bayelsans

The former Managing Director, of Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, has accepted the outcome of the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), primaries in Bayelsa State.

We gathered that Chief Alaibe emerged as the first runner up with 365 votes, as against the 561 votes recorded by the winner of the primaries, Senator Douye Diri.

In a statement, signed by Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, and sent to DAILY POST through his media aide, said “As we are all aware, the election to determine the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the November 16 governorship race in Bayelsa State has been conducted. Even with all the inarguable inherent flaws bordering on crass disrespect for legal procedures and party guidelines, a winner has been declared.

“The delegates, whether coercively or voluntarily have spoken even if their voices do not represent the voice of the people.”

The statement continued, “My decision to seek election as Governor of Bayelsa State was based both on the collective opinion of respected stakeholders of our beloved state and a personal conviction that I have what it takes to make the difference in the economic development of our state, and having travelled the same route more than once, I took time to pray, plan my strategies and carry out wider consultations more than I had ever done in the past”

“My sincere desire was to bring into governance my experiences and exposures both in the public and private sectors spanning more than three decades. I came with a mission and a vision clearly articulated and made public. I was thrilled to see the Blue Economy Concept and Project Dolphin becoming household chants, especially among our vibrant youths.

“When we finally picked the Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms, we chose to run idea based campaign. We envisioned a state where electricity will run 24/7 in less than 18 months through planned utilisation of abundant but wasted gas resource.

“We looked forward to creating a permanent distance between our youth and violence by applying the same method we did in the Presidential Amnesty Programme—disarming, demobilising, rehabilitating and reintegrating them.

“We articulated programmes that would produce intellectual militants in place of violent militants. We thought of a booming economy based on sea-side industrialisation that would create jobs for our people.

“We thought of extensive road networks and bridges, functional health facilities, among others. Drawing from my modest experience at the Niger Delta Development Commission, my vision was to assemble a team of experts that would conceive and execute a 25-Year Development Plan for Bayelsa State—a plan that would outlive my administration—for the good of our people. From all indications, these lofty plans may have to be put on hold because the opportunity to execute them has been put on hold.

“We chose to run a decent campaign in line with the Constitution of our party, the PDP and the laws of Nigeria. We vowed never to engage or respond to acts of violence and abuse from any quarter. We did not envisage that the process would be smooth and easy; but we also could not believe the depth of desperation and deadly manoeuvring that we encountered along the way. We were called unprintable names and even labelled with criminal tags. But we were too focused to be distracted.

“To my supporters and friends, let it be known that no one could have been more disappointed with the outcome of our governorship primary that held on Tuesday September 3 than me. I know you are awfully disappointed too. But our disappointment is certainly not that the outcome was against our wish to obtain the mandate of our great party, but because of the obviously flawed process that led to the primary.

“We all know that the basis of our party is the Constitution in addition to the rules and regulations that we set for ourselves from inception in 1998, and the fact our party has become reformed. Consequently, for anything to be legitimate it must derive authority from our Constitution. Unfortunately, certain aspects of the processes of the just concluded primary election rudely violated the provisions of our Party Constitution.

“For instance, by the provisions of Section 50(1) of the Party Constitution, the authority to formulate guidelines for all matters relating to the governorship primary is vested in the NEC of the PDP. The election of Ad-Hoc delegates is one of such matters. Strangely, the panel set up to undertake this exercise simply imposed on us a list of electoral and returning officers prepared by the state officers of the party who are avowed members of the orchestrated Restoration Team. Thus, the process was deliberately handed over to the Restoration Team. Our protest was ignored.

“This issue of election of local council chairmen and councillors that were allowed to participate in the primary despite a court order was another setback. You would recall that we protested to the appropriate organs of the party. As it turned out, the national leadership of the party would seem not to have been persuaded by the strength of our argument for obedience to the supreme law of our great party. Even the powers that be in state unsuccessfully challenged the superiority of our position in court.

“While we must put on record our disappointment with this wilful disregard to our Constitution, we must take no further steps that would merely equalize the disregard for the same Constitution. In the circumstances, we express our serious reservations about the process that led to the primary for its unconstitutionality and its outcome completely unacceptable because of its illegitimacy. However; we must move on.

“At the beginning of this contest, we made our objective very clear, that we are out to take the levers of power in order to use them to galvanise the economy of the state for the benefits of our people—who have been kept down for too long. We believe this could only be realised on the platform of this great party.

“For us, therefore, this is simply a setback. We will remain focussed, believing that very soon we would be able to realise our aspiration.

“We thank our great supporters, especially our delegates that backed us up to this point and ask them not to despair but stand firm in the belief that sooner than later, our just cause would prevail as the struggle continues. We thank you all.”

Bayelsa guber: Why PDP will win election – Governorship candidate, Diri

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has declared that his party will emerge victorious in the November governorship election in the state.

Diri said the party would emerge victorious in the forthcoming election if chieftains of the party gird their loins.

In a statement by his campaign office, Diri said victory was assured if they worked in unity, adding that he will not disappoint them and the people of the state.

The statement reads: “We are humbled and elated by the massive show of solidarity and the sacrifices made by the delegates to ensure that the distinguished Senator emerges victorious in what has gone down as the most competitive governorship primary in the state.

“Our heartfelt gratitude also goes to our amiable leader, His Excellency the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State for his display of uncommon political leadership and sagacity.

“Let us also commend the national leadership of our party and the Governor Darius Ishaku led committee for a job well done, especially for allowing a level playing field.

“We also appreciate PDP leaders and stakeholders, women, youths and Bayelsans for their support, prayers and wise counsel since we began this journey to move our state to greater heights.

“We acknowledge the efforts of other aspirants who gave their best shot for the ticket. Our victory is a collective one so we enjoin them as true party men to stand with us as we move closer to make this project a reality.

“In the days ahead, we shall storm communities across the eight local government areas to present to our people what we are bringing to the table in the next four years.

“It is going to be an interesting voyage as we intend to use the opportunity to discuss facts on competence, prosperity of our people and stable governance as a whole.”