Even before the first ballot is cast in the primary to pick who flies the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 2023 governorship election, the party is already experiencing turbulence.

From available reports, six aspirants namely, former Minister of State, Petroleum and former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, the 2019 governor-elect, Chief David Pereworimini Lyon, Ogomade Isikima Johnson, Prof Ongoebi Etebu Maureen, Festus Daumiebi Sunday and Joshua Maciver have been cleared to contest the primaries.

Political observers following happenings within the APC believe that x-raying the utterances from various camps, it appears the aspirants are ready for a showdown that may make or mar the chances of the party in the elections.

APC’s history of troubled primaries

The first governorship primary of the APC in 2015 was riddled with confusion. The party was divided into camps rooting for Sylva, who was leader of the party, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, Warman Ogoriba, Godknows Powell and Preye Aganaba. The first primary held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex supervised by the then governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole ended in fiasco.It was cancelled by the party leadership following allegations of intimidation and non-compliance with the regulations of the party.

In the rescheduled primaries after Alaibe pulled out of the electoral process, Sylva emerged the standard bearer for the December 5th, 2015 governorship election. However, the controversy stirred by the primaries proved fatal for the party as it lost the governorship election winning only one local government area while the PDP candidate and Bayelsa governor then, Henry Seriake Dickson won in seven local governments.

In the 2019 APC governorship primaries, Sylva as Minister threw his weight behind Lyon as against the former Minister of State for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. Sylva deployed all his resources and structure to ensure Lyon emerged.The electoral process that produced Lyon was questioned by Lokpobiri who continued with his litigation even after the emergence of Lyon.

The bitter fight for the party’s ticket and the associated distraction prevented the party from paying close attention to the case instituted by the PDP against Lyon’s running mate, Senator Biobarakuma Degi- Eremienyo. This eventually cost the party the governorship as the Supreme Court sacked Lyon on the eve of his inauguration after ruling that Degi- Eremienyo was not qualified to stand as running mate due to the ruling of a Federal High Court which found him guilty of providing false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Curiously, Lyon, on whose behalf Sylva fought hammer and tongs with Lokpobiri, turned around to accuse Sylva of not doing enough to help him reclaim his mandate. Some of his loyalists further accused the latter of striking a deal with the PDP. Lyon not only dumped Sylva as his political godfather but also teamed up with Lokpobiri up to wrest control of the party structure from Sylva.Series of litigations spearheaded by the Lokpobiri/ Lyon camp aiming to take control of the party, especially the one seeking to sack the state executive, is still pending at the Appeal court.

The lack of cohesion in the Bayelsa APC was reflected in the party’s national convention, presidential primaries and the just concluded 2023 elections. While Sylva was for Tinubu, Lyon was in support of Rotimi Amaechi while Lokpobiri was working for Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. The bellicose attitude of the various camps is what is at play as the various camps strive to outdo one another ahead of the primary election.

The gathering storm

Supporters of Lyon rooting for their man to secure the party’s ticket have flown the option of first refusal kite arguing that he (Lyon) remains the only heavyweight that can win the governorship for the party in the state. Speaking through a former secretary of the party, Marlin Daniel, they declared that if the party wants to win the Bayelsa governorship seat, it should give its ticket to Lyon.

“We are presenting our Principal, David Lyon, as a household name in this country. He is a young man that gallantly fought a sitting governor and won him; unfortunately, the arms of the law were twisted against him and denied the opportunity of being the governor of Bayelsa to save that state.

“Ordinarily, and under normal circumstances, he was supposed to be given the right of first refusal by the party. Sales of forms are not supposed to be made open. Because he is the only person that can win the election for APC in Bayelsa State, as it stands now.

“I am taking this message to the national executive and whoever that is concerned, that if they want APC to produce the next governor of Bayelsa State, there is no doubt that it is picking Lyon as a candidate for the party.

“Lyon has been tested, tried and trusted. As I talk to you, every day, the PDP-led administration is inviting pastors and Imams from different quarters to go and pray that David Lyon will not become the candidate for APC.”

In what could be seen as an extension of moves to give Lyon an upper hand in the primary, a group within the party, Grassroots Mobilization Forumargued that Sylva is not qualified to contest the primary for failing to resign his position as Minister as stipulated by the Electoral Act, Section 84, subsection 12.

The Chairman of the group, a known loyalist of Lokpobiri and lately Lyon, Komonibo Ndutimi and secretary, Dallas Ebibi maintained that the Chairman of the National Primary Election Committee and the leadership of the party should not allow Sylva to partake in the primary election.

In another petition signed by some party members led by Doubra Kpoku, Nelson Geinbo, Charles Fyneman, Ogbei Joseph and Dressman Isowo, they asked the party to disqualify Sylva on the basis that he violated provisions of Article 31 paragraph (iii) of the APC Constitution which they said aligned with provisions of the Electoral Act.

Also thrown into the mix is the video of Sylva in 2021 where he said he was not going to run for Bayelsa governorship again but rather look for another credible candidate to run. Those behind the release of the video believe Sylva carries a moral burden of being a man of his own words to resist the overtures to contest for the Bayelsa governorship again.

However, those against Lyon led by Progressive Vanguard of APC have knocked Lyon over what they called his lack of interest in the affairs of APC and called for his suspension over anti-party activities and affairs.

The Chairman of the group, Chief Suowari Joshua lamented Lyon’s lackadaisical attitude towards the affairs of the party.

“We are concerned by the lack of will towards our party matters from Mr David Lyon. The opposition PDP has for years now swept the votes around him since 2019.Three senatorial attempts have been truncated under his watch in the Bayelsa Central, that of Festus Daumiebi, Abel Ebifemowei and Timipa Orunimighe.

“He should tell the world why he worked against Hon Preye Oseke and Sele Ben for the House of Representatives and House of Assembly respectively.

“We are also curious as to why he supported, as evidence suggested, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP over Tinubu. We are certain he did that out of the prompting from his master, Chibuike Amaechi, who clearly imagined an Atiku Presidency but failed.

“The world should know still that he has never contributed financially to the affairs of the party. Not during those senatorial runs mentioned, not for Bola Tinubu’s election as President and not for any other APC elections.

“We unequivocally ask for the suspension of Chief David Lyon for the above reasons. A political party should be an assemblage of like minds not for fifth columnists.”

Similarly, Southern Ijaw Frontier Force led by its secretary, Chief Wilabo Tebeolotu has criticised Lyon for losing his ward to the opposition PDP during the 2023 general elections.

According to Tebeolotu, the poor performance of APC in Lyon’s area was due to the lackadaisical attitude of Lyon to the success of APC.

“The poor run of results of APC in Southern Ijaw is embarrassing. This is an indication of Lyon’s incapability to deliver.”

Battle of Wits

The Sylva camp which has largely ignored the several volley of criticisms calculated to weaken the aspiration of its leader released Sylva’s resignation letter which confirmed that the former Minister has resigned in compliance with the Electoral Act.

A source in Sylva’s camp who preferred anonymity said Lyon’s camp is jittery because their principal cannot stand an electoral chance in a contest with Sylva. According to him, they talk about Lyon’s victory in 2019 ascribing it to Lyon’s popularity without highlighting efforts by leaders of the party led by Sylva in the 2019 victory.

“It is an irony that all those talking about David Lyon and threatening that without him, Bayelsa APC would not exist forget that the party was already solid before Lyon joined. They also forgot that Lyon in his wildest dreams was not thinking about the governorship until he was ‘anointed’ by Sylva who aside taking him round to party leaders also ensured he emerged the party’s candidate and won the election. Before Lyon’s Southern Ijaw’s result was announced, APC had already won the election. Supporters of Lyon’s should stop the show of desperation.”

One of the aspirants,Joshua Maciver, worried about the mudslinging, has appealed to all aspirants to shun all forms of acrimony within the party.

“I appeal to party leaders not to disrespect the party’s leadership but to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the primaries. The exercise is a contest among family members with the same objectives”

Also, Festus Daumiebi, another aspirant has condemned the resort to smear campaign by the aspirants ahead of the primaries.

The statement read in part, “Notice is hereby given to the general public that some gubernatorial aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Bayelsa State and their supporters have resorted to smear campaigns and playing mischief with my good name.

“These aspirants and their supporters who are in the habit of making protests have written petitions throwing shades at co-aspirants and then insert my name as the author of the communication.

“Their intention is to play spoiler, stoke fire, wage a war behind the radar using my name and reputation, and in the process attract self-gains.

“It is, therefore, with great restraint and compelling necessity that I have to make this disclaimer stating that I am not part of any internal squabbles in the All Progressives Congress in the state and will never be in the overall interest of the well-being of the party.

“My position is inspired by the fact that for the APC in Bayelsa State to come out victorious in the forthcoming gubernatorial polls and subsequent elections, all warring factions must sheath their swords and embrace peace. True reconciliation and healing must be instituted, and all hands must be on deck.

“Let it also be known that my intention to contest for the governorship seat of Bayelsa State is not borne out of desperation but out of love and genuine desire to enthrone a new Bayelsa State that all of us will be proud of.

“Therefore, while all aspirants have the right to their ambition, I urge them not to be desperate in the quest to clinch the party ticket. If they must write petitions, they should be bold enough to use their names and signatures. They must desist forthwith from using my name, or I will be left with no option but to defrock them and also respond with a corresponding riposte. “

The die is cast as the aspirants know their fate on April 15. How the party would come out as a united party after the primaries is left to its leadership. (Daily Sun)