Sylva wins Bayelsa APC primary again as Alaibe withdraws

Former NDDC boss says party is supreme to personal interest
In a repeat of what happened at the cancelled September 22 Bayelsa APC primary elections, former Governor of the state, Timipreye Sylva again clinched the party’s mandate to contest the state’s governorship election slated for December5, 2015, even as his arch rival, Timi Alaibe withdrew from the exercise few hours before it commenced.

Sylva was declared the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a total of 981 votes. The election that had 28 invalid votes was conducted amidst tight security at the state secretariat of the party. Other aspirants who contested with him scored votes ranging from three, four, 20 and 40, even as some aspirants could not muster any vote.

In his acceptance speech, the gubernatorial candidate, Timipre Sylva expressed happiness over the victory, saying that his target was to remove the incumbent Governor, Seriake Dickson from the government House.

“I am happy to accept this mantle which you have given to me for a second time. I want to thank the security agents. For us in the APC, we have the job to kick out Dickson. There have been uncompleted projects filled with lies. I know that the people are yearning for change.

For the delegates, they are wonderful. It is no longer a season of “Baboon dey work, monkey dey chop”, he enthused.

“I call on all the aspirants to join me in making sure that we take over the govt. I want others, especially Alaibe to join us to work together. We have the symbol of change and just as the broom, we shall sweep away the lies and sufferings.”

Meanwhile, Sylva’s arch-rival, Alaibe, who had few days ago, called for the cancellation of the September 22 botched primary, held at the Samson Siasia Stadium, issued a statement in Yenagoa, the state capital in the early hours of Wednesday before the primary election commenced.

Giving reasons for his withdrawal, Alaibe hinged his action on the need to sacrifice his personal interest “for the common good, whether for the APC or the state in general”.

he lengthy and tersely worded statement reads: “It is with all nostalgia that I recall the zeal, enthusiasm and hope with which thousands of Bayelsans made a statement in the direction of change in August, 2015. I can also vividly recall a mental replay of the occasion wherein a qualitative representation of the leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) ushered in respected leaders and members from their then party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).