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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Former Bayelsa state governor-elect, David Lyon, has picked expression of interest and nomination forms for November, this year’s governorship election, declaring that he deserves right of first refusal.
He spoke through his supporters that stormed the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to pick the forms on his behalf, insisting that he is a tested, tried and trusted leader of the party in the state.
Pioneer State Secretary, Marlin Danier, who spoke to newsmen after purchasing the forms, argued that he remains the only heavyweight good enough to win the governorship election for APC in the state.
He specifically warned the national leadership of the party to settle for Lyon as party’s candidate if they want APC to produce the next Governor of Bayelsa State.
“We are presenting our Principal, David Lyon, as a household name in this country. He is a young man that gallantly fought a very colossus governor and won him, unfortunately, the arms of the law were twisted against him and denied the opportunity of being the governor of Bayelsa state to save that state.
“We are back here to get the form for him to go back and contest this election. 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,” he said.
Defending the choice of Lyon, Danier said: “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.
“He is their nightmare. They are comfortable with every other person, but with Lyon, they know they are off. That has been their prayer.
“I can confidently and categorically tell the world that if David Lyon is given the ticket today, to represent the party, more than half of the membership of PDP will come back to the APC.
“If anybody thinks I am lying, let them go and ask PDP members in Bayelsa, not even APC members, the PDP members will tell them that if Lyon comes back as the candidate of APC, all of them will come and work for him.
“That is the true position of things in Bayelsa state today.
I want to urge the national Secretariat to ensure that there is a level playing ground for everybody if there is going to be anybody that will contest. It should be a level playing ground.
“You can see what is happening in the States, the congresses, the state, local government, because things are not done right. Today you can hear the decision of the court in that state, we don’t want our primaries to be like that we want a level playing ground.
“If there is any giant let him go down and let the APC members decide. And I am telling you, I am assuring you that a David Lyon will win that Goliath. I want to plead with the national secretary. We need a level playing ground so that we will overcome the temptation of going to court. We want to win elections. And David Lyon is the only candidate that can win the elections for us,” he insisted.
