The primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State is generating tension. Nineteen aspirants are struggling for the ticket. MIKE ODIEGWU examines the issues that will shape the contest and the chances of the major aspirants.
The contest for the governorship ticket of the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) will be robust, tough and controversial. Undoubtedly, the fortune of the party and its success in the December 5 governorship election depend on the outcome of the primary election. Observers have already described it as a make or mar contest for the party.
Everybody in the state appears to be waiting for the emergence of the flag bearer to do a final analysis of the December 5 poll. The exercise is already concluded in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the emergence of Governor Seriake Dickson as the standard bearer. Even without conducting a primary election, the party zeroed in on Dickson as its best for the election.
In spite of the challenges that were initially heaped on his path, it was evident that Dickson would get the party’s nod. Therefore, all attention has been on who would emerge as the APC standard bearer. Based on feelers from the streets, people are clamouring for a neutral candidate; someone free of excess baggage of corruption allegations and an individual whose lifestyle, taste, behaviour and conduct have shown passion and commitment to develop the state.
Observers believe that the APC can only give the PDP and Dickson a run for their money if it rises above selfish sentiments and produces a candidate generally accepted by the people. Otherwise, with an unpopular candidate and on the strength of one-man, one-vote, the party may not be able to make the desired impact.
Already, there are signs that all may not be well with the APC. No fewer than 19 aspirants are battling for the ticket. They include the leader of the chapter and former Governor Timipre Sylva; former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe; ex-Chief of Staff, Chief Dikivie Ikioghaba and former two-time member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Warman Ogoriba.
Others are: the Prince of Odi Kingdom and former senatorial aspirant, Preye Aganaba; Ambassador Felix Oboro, Ambassador Felix Otiotio, Powell Godknows, Kpolovie Obhoo, Christopher Enai, Romeo Bekeyai, Tonye Apirila, Ebitimi Amgbare, Fred Ekiegha, Senator Clever Ikisikpo, Mrs. Charity Vedalago and Ebitei Francis Williams.
Sylva
Sylva, who is popularly known as the Opuabadi (the sea) and Pigaton, became governor in 2007 — against all expectations. Following the controversial tenure elongation judgment that initially favoured him and other past governors, he was at the helm for about five years. The former governor is remembered for constructing roads in Yenagoa, the state capital; completing and maintaining the Peace Park, stimulating the local economy, empowerment and other projects.
But, he was accused of operating a state security outfit, Famou-Tangbe, which was hit by allegations of rights violations.
The former governor’s tenure was eventually terminated by a Supreme Court judgment that reversed the earlier ruling and sent him packing from the Creek Haven Government House. This made him vulnerable in the power play that erupted between him and former President Goodluck Jonathan who became his sworn enemy. He was denied a re-election ticket of the PDP and made a candidate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). His matter is still before the EFCC.
Sylva, who hails from Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa East Senatorial District, later salvaged his political career by joining the APC at its formative stage. He became the leader of the state chapter. Against the background of initial claims that he was not interested in the race, his entry came as a surprise to many.
There are reports that Dickson and his supporters are praying for the emergence of Sylva as the APC flag bearer. Dickson believes that the election will be a walkover for him, if Sylva eventually becomes the candidate of the party. The governor has enough campaign materials to shoot down the ambition of Sylva, his supports claim.
As a leader who has suffered to bring the party on board, Sylva stands a great chance of clinching the ticket. Indeed, despite his alleged mistakes as a governor, Sylva remains popular. He has over 25 years experience in politics. His entrance into politics began in the old Rivers State where he held many elective positions, including being a member of the House of Assembly.
He is considered one of the main aspirants in the APC.
Alaibe
Fondly called “the principal”, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe is a big force in the politics of the state and the Niger Delta region. His entrance into the race is like a bone stuck in the throat of the government and the PDP because he is seen as capable of jeopardising the re-election of Dickson. The camp of the governor is not favourably disposed to Alaibe picking the APC ticket.
He is popular among the youth and has wide acceptance among the elders. APC elders who defected from the PDP contributed money to buy his nomination and expression of interest forms. Also, Alaibe hails from Kolokuma-Opokuma, a politically marginalised local government area. Despite the roles played by the council in the creation of the state, it has not produced a governor, a deputy or a Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
A great mobiliser and organiser, Alaibe has established a network of national and international connections. He was the pioneer Managing Director of the NDDC and the first Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Alaibe’s popularity soared in the build-up to the April 2011 elections when he wanted to run against Sylva on the platform of the Labour Party (LP). Following the exit of Sylva, Alaibe was convinced to return to the PDP and run on its platform in the 2012 election. But, he was denied a waiver to pave the way for Dickson.
Alaibe is roundly criticised for always mobilising people and abandoning them to negotiate for other assignments each time he nurses a governorship ambition. He was said to have done that on two occasions. Therefore, some people believe he has squandered his goodwill by not always following his ambition to govern to a logical conclusion. But, others argue that Alaibe is a party man, who always put the general interest of the party above his personal ambition. His love for the party was the reason why he opted out of some elections in the past. Many people believe that Alaibe is the most qualified aspirant for the ticket.
Ikiogha
Chief Ikiogha is another big name in the race. Ikiogha is a known political brand who has played crucial roles in the past electoral victories of the PDP. His well-publicised defection to the APC generated concern. He wields a lot of influence and is believed to be another threat to Dickson’s re-election ambition.
A grassroots politician, Ikiogha had in the past held many political offices by appointments. He served in some ministries as commissioner and in his last appointment; he worked under Dickson as Chief of Staff, Government House. Dickson, in controversial circumstance, moved Ikiogha from Yenagoa Government House to the state’s office in Abuja as a chief of staff. He later resigned his appointment to seek a seat in the House of Representatives in the last general election, but was denied the PDP ticket.
Indeed, he is one of the most experienced aspirants. He is the founder of a political movement, the New Nigeria Initiative (NNI), a platform he has always used to canvass votes for his preferred candidates in past elections. Popularly called the kingmaker, because of his roles in the victories of past governorship candidates, Ikiogha now seeks the APC ticket to be a king in a state he has wide knowledge of.
Ogoriba
Ogoriba is perhaps, the most vibrant and youngest of all the aspirants. He has a wide appeal and provides a bridge between two extremes. Though he has not held any public office as a commissioner, he was a two-time member of the House of Representatives. As a federal lawmaker, he was so resourceful and committed to issues affecting the Niger Delta region that he rose to become the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta. He was also the Chairman of the South-South Caucus of the House.
His roles as a lawmaker exposed him to a network of connections. Ogoriba dumped the PDP and joined the APC with over 40 notable political associates. Like Alaibe, he hails from the politically-marginalised Kolokuma-Opokuma local government area.
Ogoriba seems to be free from excess baggage of corruption allegation, especially as he has not held any political appointment. Therefore, the government does not know what to accuse Ogoriba of. He possesses the prerequisite credentials to seek the ticket.
Aganaba
He is the Prince of Odi, a community in Kolokuma-Opokuma, that was invaded and destroyed by the military in 1999. Aganaba is from one of the legacy parties that collapsed into the APC. A close friend to the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, the aspirant worked as Amaechi’s aide.
His first shot at an elective office was at the last general election when he picked the ticket of the APC for the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District. He lost to Senator Emmanuel Paulker of the PDP. Aganaba is believed to be a dark horse in the race, while others are of the opinion that he is not yet mature to weather the storm of a high political office. Some also insist that, given the short duration for the election, Aganaba lacks the popularity to win an election for the APC.
Aganaba’s long history with the APC is his strength. He is also favoured by the sentiment that the ticket should go to an old member, instead of a new comer. So, Aganaba may just spring a surprise.
Amgbare
Amgbare has been a progressive. He was a founding member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and he flew the flag of the party for the 2007 governorship election, which Sylva won on the platform of the PDP. Amgbare filed a case against Sylva and got his election annulled in 2007. The cancellation of the election and the subsequent conduct of a fresh poll, which Sylva also won, altered the political timetable of the state.
Amgbare was later employed by Dickson to manage the state transportation company, but he later resigned and returned to the APC to join the governorship race. He may not have the financial muscle to challenge other top aspirants, but he possesses the progressive goodwill to sway the vote to his favour.
Other aspirants like Ambassadors Oboro and Otiotio cannot be wished away in the contest that is already generating controversy. But, some are mere pretenders, whose ambitions are simply a bargaining power for relevance in the APC.
Crisis brews
Ahead of the election, observers believe that the APC must deal with issues of imposition through alleged coercion of the delegates. Already, the executive committee of the party led by its Chairman, Mr. Tiwe Oruminighe, has been accused of working for the emergence of Sylva and attempting to narrow the race to ensure the victory of the former governor.
Crisis is brewing over a list of delegates. A founding member, Chief Perekeme Kpodo, raised the alarm over what he described as the doctoring of the delegate list by Orunimighe.
Scores of delegates were said to have gone into hiding over alleged threats and desperate scramble by aspirants. The delegates, consisting of states local and ward executives of the party, went into hiding to avoid threats.
Some members of the State Working Committee (SWC) were said to be mounting pressure on the delegates to vote for Sylva. Other aspirants were said to have approached the delegates with cash promises and better accommodation before and after the primaries.
The loyalists of Sylva, bent on ensuring that their candidate wins the ticket, were said to have told the delegates not to allow a newcomer like Alaibe reach out to them for votes.
A group known as Bayelsa Victory Frontier (BVF), in a statement by its spokesman, Ayibanoh Gibson, alleged that the threat against the APC delegates was becoming worrisome.
He said: “We have it on good authority that the Sylva’s block within the APC has resorted to threats and blackmail to cow the delegates. They have been warned of dangerous consequences if they vote for Timi Alaibe.”
Also, Kpodo, who claims to be a factional chairman of the party, accused Orunimighe of tampering with the list and forcing the delegates to vote for Sylva.
He said that all aspirants should be given level-playing field. He said compelling delegates to vote for a particular aspirant has rubbished the chances of a credible primary election.
Kpodo condemned the aspiration of Sylva, describing the former governor as a “bad product”. He insisted that if the APC presents him as its candidate, the party would lose woefully.
He added: “I want to use this opportunity to advise the delegates not to yield to the manipulation by Tiwei Orunimighe, because as a chairman of a party, he has no right under the constitution to compel delegates to vote for a particular candidate when you have many candidates.
But, when contacted, Oruminighe denied the allegations and said he would not dignify Kpodo with a response. The Media Officer to Orunimighe, Mr. Alawoei Opukume, said responding to the allegation would amount to dignifying Kpodo.
“As far as we are concerned, Kpodo is not an APC member. He is simply an impostor and does not have any atom of integrity,” he said.
A stalwart of the party, Chief Wilfred Ogbotobo, said the APC must apply a high sense of discipline and maturity, understanding and responsibility to produce a credible candidate; someone with proven capacity to deal decisively with the predominant challenges of youth unemployment, insecurity, agriculture and drinking water.
He said: “Also, there is this residual decadence and disconnect in our values occasioned by the selfish greed and anti-progress orientation of our politics. It is, however, comforting that we have illustrious members who actually pioneered the first and only bold initiative aimed at diversifying Bayelsa mono-economy.
“We are in dire need of ideas and great minds to cleanse the system of a residual crisis that characterized the 16 years of the PDP rule, especially the present Jonathan-Dickson hegemony.
“The APC must produce a mature bridge-builder to redeem image of the Ijaw nation deeply battered by the sad low performances of the Ijaws at the presidency. We need a leader who can confront the ring of coalition of corrupt, selfish and greedy sycophants frustrating good governance and service delivery in the past 16 years”.
Ogbotobo who is the Coordinator, Legacy Forum and National Coordinator, Free Bayelsa Initiative (FBI), said the APC must prevent PDP from turning Bayelsa a rehabilitation facility four “the resurrection of a demon mortally bruised, defeated and successfully chased away from the national political arena”.
“The party owes Bayelsa a duty to produce someone who bears these realities and possesses the spiritual maturity and intellectual resilience to confront the 21st Century challenges of the Ijaws and Nigeria,” he said.
