One of the leading governorship aspirants in Bayelsa State, Festus Daumiebi, has rejected the results of the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election conducted in the state ahead of the Nov 11, gubernatorial election.
Daumiebi, who also called for the cancellation of the outcome of the Friday primary, said the process was undermined, marred by irregularities and heavily compromised by officials of the party.
The election panel led by Maj. Gen. A.T Jubrin, on Saturday, declared Chief Timipre Sylva the winner with a total of 52,061 votes to defeat his closest rival, Joshua MacIver who got 2,078 votes.
Daumiebi came a distant fourth with 557 votes while other scores include Chief David Lyon, 1591 votes, Ongoebi Etebu Maureen 1277 votes, and Ogbomade Johnson, 584 votes.
In a statement, issued on Sunday to DAILY POST, Daumiebi stated that the election was not conducted as promised by the Maj. Gen. A.T Jubrin led the electoral committee, for the gubernatorial primary.
The statement reads, “Notice is hereby given to the general public, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State and the National Executive Council that I Festus Daumiebi Sunday, Governorship aspirant of the APC do reject in its entirety what was announced as the result of the party primary election.
“Let it be known that on Friday the 14th of April 2023 some card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress turned out at various wards to cast their vote in what was promised to be a free, fair and credible primary election. They waited all day but sadly there was no election in the wards across the State as officials of the party who were sent to conduct the election failed to turn up. Neither were their electoral materials seen in the said Wards.
“In selected places they tried to pass off a simulation of an election, the process was undermined, marred by irregularities and heavily compromised. Party officials failed to abide by the party guidelines and agreed processes. Upon reaching the Party secretariat on Saturday 115th April, I was shocked to observe that ‘heavy numbers have been concocted for their preferred aspirant and then a return was made in the open as programmed.
”Nevertheless, let me express my profound appreciation to all those who worked tirelessly for the new Bayelsa project. Though you were deprived of the opportunity to vote do not despair. I urge you to remain calm and law-abiding as we shall explore all legal means to challenge the outcome”.
