In Bayelsa, Sylva Declared Winner Of Controversial APC Primary Election Marred By Violence

Former governor of Bayelsa State Timipre Sylva has been declared the winner of the state governorship primary for the election scheduled for 5 December.

Multiple reports indicate that the exercise was marred by violence, thuggery, intimidation of some aspirants and meddlesomeness by some state party officials.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, was held hostage and was later smuggled out of the venue by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and soldiers.

According to eyewitness accounts by Kayode Akintemi, and Award-Winning Broadcast Journalist, General Manager, Operations at Channels TV the governor of Edo state who served as the returning officer left the venue even before the announcement of results…

Read tweets below..

#JustIn : @APCNigeria's Party Primary in Bayelsa has been marred by violence including breaking of bottles & gunshots fired around venue

— Kayode Akintemi (@KayodeAkintemi) September 22, 2015

#JustIn: @APCNigeria's primary features 19 governoship aspirants, voting has started with only 4 aspirants including #TimipreSilva present

— Kayode Akintemi (@KayodeAkintemi) September 22, 2015

#JustIn: Timipre Sylva has emerged winner of @APCNigeria governorship primary election in Bayelsa State, marred by violence & withdrawals

— Kayode Akintemi (@KayodeAkintemi) September 22, 2015

Timipre Sylva emerged Governorship flag bearer of @APCNigeria winning 726 votes.Returning Officer Gov. Oshiomhole left before election began

— Kayode Akintemi (@KayodeAkintemi) September 22, 2015

It was gathered that the governor escaped the angry youths under the pretence that he was going to have his meal.

Trouble started in the morning before 8am, when thugs, suspected cultists and ex-militants invaded the entrance of Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa, the venue of the exercise.

The thugs hurled stones at delegates who lined up to be screened for the exercise creating chaos and panic in the area.

The unruly crowd attacked the delegates and sent them running for their lives. Most of the delegates especially persons said to be loyal to the former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, could not return to the venue.