The All Progressives Congress (APC) committee for the conduct of Bayelsa gubernatorial primaries has insisted the party followed constitutional provisions in the conduct of the election.
The secretary of the committee, Senator Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja, representing Kogi east told Blueprint that election committee established by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) adopted direct primaries which the Bayelsa chapter of the APC earlier adopted.
The party constitution says there are three stages of primaries. There is consensus, indirect and direct primaries and Bayelsa agreed to do direct and we allow them to do that,” he said.
Ocheja explained that the NWC of the APC wrote to all the states to adopt what they wish to use.
He said the committee was fair in its role during the primaries, insisting that all the aspirants were given level-playing ground.
He also explained that the court order compelled the party to shift the gubernatorial primaries from last week till last Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has rejected the outcome of primaries, describing it as a charade.
