Former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, has emerged the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the December 5 governorship election in the State.
The election was held at the party secretariat in Yenagoa, the State capital, under tight security provided by a combined team of policemen, operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and soldiers attached to ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, with the Assistant Inspector- General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Benin, Mr Musa Daura, in attendance.
This was just as one of the frontline aspirants and former NDDC boss, Mr Ndutimi Alaibe, explained that he withdrew from the primary poll to sustain the cohesion of APC in the State.
According to the result of the re-scheduled primary election announced by the chairman of the electoral committee, Brig- General Mansur Dan- Ali (retd), Sylva polled 981 votes to emerge the governorship candidate, with his closest rival, Mr Godknows Powell, polling 39 votes.
The fresh primary election ordered by the national secretariat of the party after the September 22 exercise in which Sylva was declared winner with 726 votes, was not without drama, as Mr Ndutimi Alaibe, one of the aspirants pulled out of the race.
Also, another governorship aspirant, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, stormed the venue of the primary election and complained that he was not aware that the primary election had commenced.
But Dan- Ali stated that all the aspirants were contacted, pointing to the other aspirants already seated.
Other aspirants who took part in the fresh primary election were Mr Preye Aganaba, Mr Warman Ogoriba, Dr Augustine Ogionwon- Febo, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, Mr Francis Ebitei, Prof Tarilah Tebepah, Amb Felix Oboro, Amb Emmanuel Otiotio, Mrs Charity Vedalago, Senator Clever Ikiskpo, Pastor Tonye Aprela and Mr George Ombeh.
Amgbare, who spoke on behalf of the aspirants, commended the party for conducting a credible, free and fair election, which produced Sylva as the party’s governorship candidate.
