Violence Mars APC Governorship Primary in Bayelsa

According to the Punch, the primary election of the All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State has been marred by violence and intimidation. The primary taking place at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex started on a controversial note with some aspirants calling for the cancellation of the exercise.

Before 8am, thugs invaded the entrance of the venue. The thugs hurled stones at delegates who lined up to be screened for the exercise, creating chaos and panic in the area.

But over 1,300 security operatives deployed in the venue battled and eventually restored the peace. Most of the delegates were shut out of the exercise and were not allowed access to the venue of the primary.

When the accreditation of the delegates started, most persons who presented themselves for the exercise were said to be fake delegates in possession of cloned voter cards. The Master of Ceremonies announced that some persons with cloned cards had been arrested and handed over to the police.

The rowdiness of the exercise was blamed on the lateness of the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who arrived the area at about 12pm. The convoy of Oshiomhole came in the midst of the controversies, two minutes after one of the top contenders and former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, arrived the area.

The Edo State Governor immediately intervened and held a meeting with members of his committee. The meeting was still holding as at the time of filing this report which raises the speculations that the party primaries could be postponed to a future date.