Bayelsa APC Primary: Alaibe alleges plot to sponsor protests against him

Yenagoa—AHEAD of the rescheduled primary by All Progressives Congress, APC, to pick its flagbearer for the December 5, governorship election in Bayelsa State, the battle to clinch the ticket is assuming a dangerous dimension, as one of the contenders, Timi Alaibe, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged plots to smear his name.

This came as Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, insisted that it stood by alleged victory of former Governor Timipre Sylva, at the disputed primary Tuesday.

Alaibe, speaking through the Timi Alaibe Campaign Organisation, claimed that some faceless groups planned to sponsor violent protests in Yenagoa and Abuja to discredit him.


Spokesman of the campaign organisation, Patterson Ogon, in a statement in Yenagoa, said: “The faceless groups have perfected plans to print T-shirts and vests in the name of Alaibe and are planning to stage violent protests in Yenagoa and the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja.”

Ogon alleged that the politically motivated plot to rubbish Alaibe’s name was part of plans to frustrate him ahead of the rescheduled primary for the APC governorship ticket.

The statement read in part: “It has come to the notice of the Timi Alaibe Campaign Organisation that some faceless groups have printed T-shirts and vests in the name of Alaibe and have hired thugs to stage violent protests in Yenagoa and at the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja. Their plan is to cause havoc and transfer the blame to Alaibe.”

But APC Chairman in the state, Chief Orunimighe, insisted that the primary had been won and lost, arguing that reported cancellation of the election was baseless and unfounded.

“As Chairman of Bayelsa APC, I am not aware of any cancellation of the primary. With all due respect to the National Chairman of our party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, he said nobody should make an announcement except they cleared with him. I want to believe that people who made statements from the national secretariat did not have clearance with him.

“So, I believe the cancellation rumour does not stand. For now, election has been held and I think that is how it stands. Chief Timipre Sylva won the primary conducted last Tuesday,” he said.