Bayelsa gov: Direct, indirect primary methods cause confusion

Whether to adopt the direct or indirect method for the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries has broken the ranks of the party.

Indications to this effect emerged Thursday at the stakeholders’ meeting called to adopt a mode of election for the election of its governorship candidate for the November 16 main exercise.

The meeting ended in a rowdy session as the majority of the stakeholders chose the direct mode of primaries as against the position of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) which seems to favour indirect method.

According to two aspirants, Engr Preye Aganaba and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the meeting ended in a stalemate because the chairman of the party, Mr Jothan Amos, failed to follow due process at summoning the stakeholders’ meeting and adoption of the mode of primaries for the party.

Engr Aganaba, who spoke through the Director-General of his Governorship campaign, Nestor Binabo, said “though the meeting ended in a stalemate, even with a consensus pattern, we will carry the day. Bayelsa people want us and we know quite alright that they are yearning for change.”

Similarly, the former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, through his Director of Media and Publicity of his Governorship campaign team, Perez Peretu, said the meeting ended in a stalemate and that the APC state chairman needed to summon another stakeholders meeting, “Even if we disagree, we will eventually agree”.

However, a serving federal lawmaker Hon Preye Influence Oseke representing Southern Ijaw federal constituency has dismissed claims that the meeting ended in stalemate, instead said there was no stalemate because majority of the people supported the direct mode of primaries.

“In a meeting, it is normal to have opposing views, but the majority will have their way. The minority will also be heard, we already adopted the direct primaries mode for the governorship election through voice votes and that is the position of the party.”

“Of course that is expected but as a party we will overcome it, we’re advising party faithful to work together to forge a common understanding to deliver the various units in the election.

“Many of the SWC members including the deputy chairman and the state legal officer kicked against the action of the state chairman and accused him of not summoning a meeting of the party exco to discuss and adopt the mode of primary before the stakeholder meeting.”

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