THE Chief Tiwe Orunimighe led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Saturday held a non elective congress to clear 24 delegates from the eight local government area of the state.
But the Joseph Faf faction loyal to the former state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva was absent during the exercise.
The congress was held at the state party secretariat in Yenagoa.
The delegates were selected through affirmation following consensus by all the local government chapters of the party.
Party faithful affirmed the nominees presented to the congress committee through voice votes.
The Secretary of the committee, Mrs. Mildred Ezoh, who came from the National Secretariat of the party said the congress was either through elections or affirmation as recommended by the constitution of the party.
She said the committee’s job was simplified by the decision of the party members in the state to adopt affirmation.
“We came from Abuja for this exercise and we be done what we are supposed to do. It is either by election or affirmation. I have been directed to conduct this election”, she said.
The state Chairman of the party, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe, described the exercise as peaceful and devoid of rancour.
He said the leadership of the party at the local government areas consulted widely with all the stakeholders before submitting their lists adding that they were required to present only three delegates from each council.
He said the exercise was devoid of crisis because the consultations that produced the lists were far-reaching.
Apart from the 24 delegates, he said the state had other statutory delegates that would participate in the convention of the party.
He said: “Today is our local government delegate congress. The exercise was smooth. We had no hitches. The only place where we had small disagreement was in Ekeremor. But the disagreement was resolved.”
Some of the party members described the congress as peaceful and commended the electoral committee and the APC chairman for the success of the exercise.
The congress was monitored by about 12 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the Yenagoa office of the commission.
