Bayelsa: Alaibe may dump APC for LP

Following his defeat at the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election, one of the party’s governorship aspirants, Timi Alaibe, may soon dump the party for the Labour Party (LP) to realise his ambition, Ripples has learnt.

A source close to the former chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) who pleaded anonymity, said that Alaibe was disappointed by the outcome of the governorship primary election conducted by the Adams Oshiomhole committee in which former governor Timipre Sylva emerged winner.

Alaibe has a previous relationship with the LP on which platform he tried unsuccessfully to run in 2003.

He was said to have complained bitterly about the process of the election which was seen as “flawed, manipulated and unacceptable”, and as such he would have to look elsewhere where he could possibly realize his governorship ambition.

It was gathered that Alaibe called for cancellation of the election and the conduct of a fresh one as the only way forward, warning of the consequence of what he and his followers believed was an injustice.

The source informed that Alaibe would be addressing a world press conference soon at which he may announce his latest decision to switch camp.

A source said, “All of us in the Alaibe Campaign Organization are not happy about the way and manner the primary election was rigged. You all saw what happened and that cannot be regarded as a clean election. It was a complete sham as you all witnessed it. The process was totally flawed and manipulated to favour a particular individual and as such it is unacceptable.

“In any case Alaibe has registered his complaint and the only way forward as he said is to cancel it and conduct a fresh election but since they are not ready to do that, we have to move on. Alaibe is definitely looking towards Labour to realize his governorship ambition and we are all moving with him as dedicated supporters.”

Read also: Bayelsa APC hijacks guber primary, declares Sylva winner

Asked to clarify the warning on consequence of the controversial election for the APC, the source said in a situation where former governor, Sylva, emerged winner can only mean that the PDP will likely win the December 5 election, stating that “Bayelsans are asking for change, not a return to misrule, corruption and brigandage”.

He further said that Alaibe’s aspiration was to provide a new leadership in the state, noting that in a situation whereby that change was made impossible in the APC, moving to Labour was non-negotiable.

“We want to provide a credible alternative in Bayelsa State and that alternative is Alaibe. Now with this development in the APC, Alaibe has no option than to realize that hope in the Labour Party and as a principle, we will neither vote for APC nor PDP. When we have our own platform, then we know what to do”, the source stated.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Sylva has been reaching out to aggrieved members of the APC in the state to work with him ahead of the election, and that they should not desert the party.

It was also learnt that both Alaibe and Sylva have been summoned to Abuja by the APC leadership in what was seen as a move towards a truce.

An inside source in APC said that the invitation was at the instance of a national leader of the APC to broker peace. The position of the APC national leadership on the outcome of the election is still being awaited.

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