deliberate "act of mischief" and "lies" the claims by the Edo State
Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that he truncated the electoral
process during the disputed governorship primaries of the All
Progressive Congress APC in the state.
According to him, though the Edo State Governor was the Chairman of
the Election Committee and had left the venue of the primaries, the
election which led to his emergence as the flag bearer of the party
was free, fair and without violence as claimed by the Edo State
governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
Sylva in a statement issued through his Media Adviser, Doifie
Bukoribo, Wednesday night said "It is unfortunate that people like
Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo State and former president of
the Nigeria Labour Congress, who pretend to be incorruptible, would
conduct himself in the manner in which he did in relation to the
Bayelsa State governorship primary. It was clear that Oshiomhole never
wanted to conduct the primary as scheduled.
"First, on his request, the primary was shifted from its earlier date
of Saturday, September 19 to the Tuesday, September 22 date. The
grouse of the delegates was that the primaries had been shifted once
on Oshiomhole's request. That shift caused enough hardship already.
The 'comrade' was again shifting the goal post, without giving
consideration to these hapless delegates. It was that frustration that
we were managing. It is so sad that the governor did not appreciate
our effort."
"Second, as chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Oshiomhole knew
full well that accreditation of delegates was to begin at 8am on
Tuesday, September 22, but he came to the venue of the programme well
past 12 noon. After he arrived at that late hour, he proceeded with a
meeting with the committee members and another meeting with the
aspirants. He clearly had preconceived plans about the Bayelsa APC
governorship primary.
"Third, Oshiomhole cannot really say anything about the primary
election because he had left the venue at the time voting commenced.
Oshiomhole set the process in motion for voting to commence before he
excused himself on the grounds that he was going to eat, and he
mandated other members of the committee to carry on without him.
"The world needs to know that the Bayelsa State Electoral Committee is
made up of seven members, and of the seven only Oshiomhole left. The
other six remained, conducted the primary and declared Sylva winner of
the exercise.
"Fourth, it bothers on pettiness for Governor Oshiomhole to quote me
as antagonist to new entrants to our party. Every discussion I had
with the governor was public.
"The only private conversation I had with him was when he walked up to
me and asked me if I truly believed he was working against my
interest. To that I answered 'YES'. As a man of integrity (?) he even
offered to step down as chairman. If he had stepped down would that
have invalidated the primaries? We should refrain from exaggerating
our worth and integrity. Let other good people judge our character."
"After all, I was the one that received all new entrants. Oshiomole
was invited and he did not come.Fifth, Oshiomhole came to Yenagoa with
a clear agenda, which was to get me out of the race at all cost. We
are aware that he had been lobbying at the centre to get me out of the
race in order to pave the way for one of the aspirants. Indeed, one of
the aspirants had boasted openly that Oshiomhole would cancel the
primary once he arrived, shortly before his arrival.
"Oshiomhole should not tell lies, if I was not there, contrary to his
insinuation that I rented thugs to manhandle him, the crowd would have
manhandled him. I personally accompanied Oshiomhole to the gate when
he was going to eat.
"Seventh, if Oshiomhole has anything personal against me, let him tell
the world. We are shocked that the man who claims to be morally
upright with a strong ethical orientation would land in Yenagoa for an
exercise in which he ought to be an impartial arbiter with a
helicopter provided by a friend of one of the aspirants."
-Vanguard
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