On Tuesday, Chief Sylva was declared the winner of the APC's governorship primaries held in Yenagoa amid controversy that involved electoral committee chairman Governor Adams Oshiomole fleeing for his life. He was announced the winner by a member of the Adams Oshiomhole committee Hon Nelson Alapa with a total of 726 votes with Warman Ogoriba coming a distant second with 10 votes.
However, prior to the voting, eight of the candidates withdrew from the race saying they could not participate after Chief Sylva took over the venue with his thugs. Edo State governor Adams Oshiomole, who was supposed to be supervising the election had to be smuggled out of the venue before voting actually began.
This has prompted the APC's national headquarters to nullify the elections and declare that a fresh set will be held. However, the Timipre Sylva Campaign has described reports to this effect as misleading and completely untrue, stating that the primary, which was won by Chief Sylva, was conducted in accordance with the party’s rules and guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) and as such the party had no basis to cancel its outcomes.
Doifie Buokoribo, a spokesman for the campaign team, said: “We want to state categorically that since the primary election was conducted according to the rules and duly won by Sylva, he remains the candidate of the APC in Bayelsa State and any statement to the contrary is mere rumour. The national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun does not have the powers to unilaterally annul a state primary election.
"We are even shocked that he allowed his name to be used when he has not even received the report from members of the electoral panel. Beyond the electoral panel’s report, there is also an Appeals Committee, which has the responsibility to examine complaints arising from the primary election and it is only after the Appeals Committee has concluded its job that the National Working Committee will meet to consider all reports from the primary, including those of the security agencies."
According to Mr Buokoribo, there were seven members of the panel at the venue of the primary, adding that the absence of Governor Adams Oshiomhole alone could not invalidate the primary. Mr Buokoribo also accused Governor Oshiomole of lying when he said the election was marred by violence.
He added: "There are pictures and videos to prove that he lied. There are also pictures and videos to show that Oshiomhole presided over the election and handed over the exercise to the secretary of the panel on the excuse that he was going to eat."
Mr Buokoribo challenged Governor Oshiomhole to answer questions relating to his conduct which he said completely compromised his position as chair of the election panel. He added that right from the beginning, it was obvious that Governor Oshiomhole was working towards a pre-determined answer.
Bayelsans go to the polls on December 5 to elect a new governor. Already, incumbent governor Seriake Dickson has been adopted as the Peoples Democratic Party's candidate after he was re-elected unopposed.
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