Unlike what obtains in other states, where imposition of candidates by governors has led to implosion and bad blood, the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said that he chose to do the right things and allow transparent processes for the selection of candidates as a way of keeping the party together.
Diri said this at his home town, Sampou, in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area on Wednesday, during the state house of assembly primary election.
His words: “I did not do any magic to get the peace that we have witnessed in the primaries. We have only done what is right.
“Bayelsans and members of the APC are doing what is right. That is why you see people cooperating. This is what we need in this country; we must abide by the rules. When people abide by the rules, you get this kind of peaceful and orderly process.
“Every politics is local and that is why you always see me coming home. I thank everyone for your support.
“Those yet to get their party registration slip, you will get it. I encourage those yet to register to do so for our party to continue to grow stronger.”
He said the cooperation of all stakeholders, a direct consequence of the leadership he showed, had contributed to the rancour-free primaries across the state.
He urged those that have registered as members of the APC but were yet to get their registration slip to be patient, assuring that it will get to them.
He also appealed to indigenes of Sampou yet to join the party to do so, saying it will improve its fortunes in the local government area and the state at large.
Speaking on reports that the APC National Working Committee directed that the results of primaries results should be announced in Abuja, Governor Diri stated that the information he got was slightly different as results can be announced at collation centres before they are forwarded to the party’s national secretariat for approval.
He allayed any fear that the national secretariat would announce results different from what emanated from the wards, insisting that the final results will reflect the people’s choices at the various wards.
He said: “The party told chairmen of the electoral committees not to grant press interviews because some signals might be misinterpreted. Results should be forwarded for approval based on what was collated. Abuja will not announce anything different from the results collated from the wards.”
The incumbent member represent Kolokuma/Opokuma state constituency 1 in the assembly, Hon. Werinipre Pamoh, emerged as the consensus candidate of the party.
The exercise was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, including the Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring, Mr. Francis Ikim and the Electoral Officer in KOLGA, Ajiwa Adeeya.
