Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has commended the unity and cohesion displayed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the party's House of Representatives primaries held across the state. The exercise, conducted through direct primaries, was peaceful and saw a massive turnout of party faithfuls who voted for their preferred candidates.
Governor Diri participated in the primaries at Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, where he praised the internal unity of the APC in Bayelsa. He stated that the party's strength lies in its ability to come together as one family, a sentiment echoed across the state's five federal constituencies.
Direct Primaries Adopted for Inclusivity
Earlier, the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Chief Solomon Ogba, explained the party's decision to adopt direct primaries. According to Ogba, this approach ensures that every party member has the opportunity to express their choice. He noted that the panel had painstakingly selected individuals of proven integrity to conduct the elections in all wards and federal constituencies.
Ogba emphasized that the committee had distributed materials to all wards ahead of the exercise and expressed confidence in a free and fair process. He stated, “I am happy that all the relevant institutions associated with the conduct of this exercise are all here. The All Progressives Congress has decided to rely on Section 84, Subsection 2 of the 2026 Electoral Act, which is the direct primary requirement for this exercise.”
Consensus Endorsement of Incumbent Oboku
At Sampou/Kalama Ward 6, the primaries resulted in the unanimous endorsement of the incumbent Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency representative, Hon. Oforji Oboku. A total of 2,565 party members, including Governor Diri, voted in favor of Oboku, reflecting overwhelming support for his leadership.
The governor described the outcome as a clear demonstration of confidence in Oboku's representation. He said, “There is only one aspirant, and that aspirant is the incumbent legislator. This is clearly an endorsement of his aspirations. The turnout witnessed here reflected the overwhelming support for Oboku.”
The APC Returning Officer for the ward, Hon. Fortune Panebi, officially announced that out of 3,411 registered members, 2,565 voted and unanimously endorsed Oboku, who was duly returned as the party's candidate for the federal constituency.
Peaceful Conduct Across the State
Governor Diri expressed satisfaction with reports from other constituencies, noting that the peaceful and orderly conduct of the primaries in his ward was consistent with developments across the state. He attributed this success to the party leadership's tireless efforts to ensure unity and avoid division, positioning the APC for success in the forthcoming general election.
