Turnout In Bayelsa APC Senatorial Primaries Impresses Gov Diri
..Explains Why Poll In Eastern District Was Different
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of voters in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries in the state, describing it as very impressive.
Senator Diri stated this on Monday shortly after the exercise at his Sampou/Kalama Ward 6 in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
The party largely adopted the consensus option in the electoral wards across the state except for Bayelsa East where members opted for direct primary voting.
A statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as commending party members for their peaceful conduct and the seamless primaries, noting that there had not been any ugly incident since the exercise began on Saturday with the House of Reps primaries.
He attributed the development largely to the consensus option adopted by the state APC and his administration’s prioritizing peace and development over politics.
His words: “I am sure the turnout will increase as we progress with the primaries. The more members get voter education, the more they will turn out to perform their civic duties. That is why you see a surge in this APC senate primaries.
“As a government, we do not elevate politics above our brotherhood. So whether we belong to different political parties, first and foremost we are brothers and sisters in the same state and we are all Nigerians. We have no reason to kill one another because of political offices.
“From the day my administration was inaugurated, we started preaching peace and brotherliness, and that the people should show love where there is hatred and light where there is darkness.
“I am happy that this awareness is taking roots in the state. So, in this primaries, we have not had any incident across the 105 wards in the state.
“So far, we have been able to have consensus candidates for some of the Reps and senatorial positions and that is a key factor. We are not coercing people. Rather, we spoke to one another and the members understood.”
The governor, however, stated that the senatorial primaries in Bayelsa East were a little different from that of the Central and West districts.
He said as a result of disagreements over the consensus option in the zone, the party opted for direct primary election.
He stated that he asked the Chief Solomon Ogba-led APC National Assembly Primaries Committee to ensure the voting process was transparent and credible.
“I spoke to the electoral committee chairman, Solomon Ogba, to ensure that his credibility reflects in that election so that at the end of the day, whoever emerges will be our party’s senatorial candidate in the eastern district,” he said.
The process was monitored by observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission, including Ajiwa Adeeya, the commission’s electoral officer in the Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area, Caroline Damachi and Engr. Prince Erasmus.
Also, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, told Government House correspondents at Ekeremor, the headquarters of Ekeremor local government area, that the exercise was adjudged peaceful, free and fair.
He said he would support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate in Bayelsa West.
