•Raises alarm over attack on members

 

By Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa and George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the Court of Appeal’s judgement affirming the candidacy of Chief Timipre Sylva for the forthcoming governorship election as a big win for democracy and a victory for Bayelsa State.

A statement by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, noted that the Appeal Court, by the ruling, has restored the hope of the people of Bayelsa for liberation.

Buokoribo, who noted that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was desperate not to have the APC on the ballot, said justice had been served.

“The Appeal Court, by its ruling, has given the people of Bayelsa State a choice on November 11. A choice between light and darkness; a choice between moving to the mountain top and descending to the valley below; and a choice between moving forward and moving backward. Democracy is about choices and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in sponsoring this frivolous case, has demonstrated its mortal fear of our party, the APC, and candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva.

“The PDP is desperate. They do not want us on the ballot. We thank God that this distraction is now over. Justice has been served.”

The Appeal Court’s  decision  followed an appeal against the October 9, 2023, judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided by Justice Donatus Okorowo, which nullified the candidature of Sylva in the November 11 governorship election on the excuse that he had taken the oath of office twice as Governor of Bayelsa State.

Meanwhile the APC has raised the alarm over attacks on its members in Opokuma, Odi and Kaiama in Kolokuma/ Opokuma Local Government Area and Sangana in Brass Local Government Area.

The party chairman, Dr Dennis Otiotio, who drew the attention of security agents to the harassment and molestation of the APC members said if the attack was not nipped in the bud, it could lead to a breakdown of law and order.

Otiotio, who addressed the victims of the attack at the party secretariat in Yenagoa, called on the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police to investigate the attack on the APC members.

He said that the APC was ready for a peaceful election, even as he urged all other political parties to campaign and allow the people to make their choices.   

One of the victims of the attack, Pastor Yalah, called on the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and security agencies to secure the lives of the APC members before, during, and after the election in Kolokuma/Opokuma.

He noted that the lives of members of the party were in danger because the PDP had directed its members to unleash mayhem on opposition members in the Local Government.