Four All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants in Bayelsa State have decried the sudden change of the venue of the party’s primary election, which is on-going at the state secretariat, complaining that they were not given prior information about the development.

Timi Alaibe, the main rival to former Gov Timiprie Sylva, had earlier today withdrawn from the race, leaving 17 other aspirants to slug it out with Sylva.

The four complaining aspirants are Mr Tarila Timpa, Mrs Tonye Aprella, Mr Dikvie Ikiogha and Mr Austine Ogion. The aspirants, who arrived whilst voting had commenced, still participated in the exercise. Aprella, who spoke with the newsmen in Yenagoa, said that the change in the venue was not made known by all the aspirants.

His words: “It is very unlawful to change venue without telling us, the aspirants; the electoral committee just change the venue to favour the former governor, Timipre Sylva.

“Are we not supposed to be informed of the venue change to enable us be around even before the accreditation commenced.

“I am going to take this report to our president, Mohammed Buhari because this is not the change that we are preaching and APC is for change.”

Another Aspirant, Mr Diekiv Ikiogha, also condemned changing of the venue overnight without informing all the aspirants.

He said: “The electoral committee initially informed us that the venue was Samson Siasia Stadium but was not followed, it is very unlawful. I was at the main venue, Samson Siasia Sports complex as early as 8am but none of the electoral committe members were founded.”

Reacting to the development, Brig. Mansur Alli (Rtd), Electoral Committee Chairman, said that the changing of the venue was not to favour any aspirants.

“Well, the the original venue was not available today so we used the secretariat in line with the direction from the party national headquarter,” Alli said.

The National Working Committee of APC had cancelled an earlier primary held on September 22 and ordered a fresh primary.

•Photo shows Sylva.

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