Bayelsa: APC chieftains disagree over candidate

There are indications that the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s national chairman, Chief John Oyegun are divided over the choice of the party’s candidate for the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa state.
Sources within the APC said that its foundation members have warned against fielding the likes of a former chairman of Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Mr. Timi Alaibe, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha and Warman Ogoriba in the governorship election.
While Tinubu was said to be favourably disposed to the candidacy of Timi Alaibe who recently just decamped to the party, Oyegun is reportedly rooting for a foundation member of the party in the state to fly its flag.

Read also: INEC blows whistle for Kogi, Bayelsa guber elections

Notable members of the party who spoke under condition of anonymity expressed dismay over the decision of Tinubu and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to support the candidacy of Alaibe.
They specifically queried that there is no difference between Alaibe and Chief Timipre Sylva, a former governor of the state.
A concerned senior citizen in APC said, “There are several cases of alleged fraudulent acts against Alaibe as Director of Finance and Managing Director of NDDC. How on earth could the leadership of the party be supporting such candidate?
“It does not augur well for the state. The records are there. How can somebody come overnight and be laying claim to the governorship ticket of the party?
“Alaibe is living in the past. He has no control of the youth in the state. Our leaders should not be deceived. We have old members that are credible. There is need for us to look inward for a credible candidate.
“If the party decides to do otherwise, we will go back to PDP, after all we have found no offence in Governor Seriake Dickson”, he said.

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