Political Briefs
–
AFTER initial hiccup which necessitated the cancellation of the first one, Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa State, once again won the rescheduled governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Wednesday, September 29.
However, Timi Alaibe, his closest contender, in an unexpected move, withdrew from the race.
In the primary that was held amidst heavy security, Sylva got 981 votes to become the gubernatorial candidate of the APC, while the second placed person had 39 votes out of the total number of 1,147 accredited votes while 27 voided votes were also recorded.
Fourteen governorship aspirants participated out of the 19 aspirants, even as Alaibe, former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, had earlier sent out a statement withdrawing from the race.
The primary conducted by a committee led by Monsur Dan-Ali, a retired brigadier-general, was peaceful and without any security breach which characterised the previous one held a week earlier.
Announcing the result of the primary, Dan-Ali said that Godknows Powell, a former state commissioner for environment, scored 39 votes, while Warman Ogoriba, a former member of the House of Representatives, scored 28 votes.
Others are Dikivie Ikhiogha, a former state commissioner for Agriculture, 22 votes; Romeo Kebaiye scored 10 votes; Tonye Akpereala, the only lady in the race, scored seven votes; Preye Aganaba, eight votes; Austin Fabo, seven votes; Ebitimi Angbare scored three votes and Ambassador Otiotio got one vote.
Sylva, in his victory speech, called on the party faithful and supporters of the other aspirants to come together and deliver the state from the failed administration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He said: “We thank God that our symbol is of the broom and we are ready to sweep out poverty, joblessness and under development from the state.”
By his election, Sylva will be facing Governor Serikia Dickson in the governorship election slated for December 5.
— Oct 12, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT
|
Tags:
