As the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for its ward, Local government and state congresses, the gladiators are throwing spinners in the works to take control of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC had three weeks ago released schedule for the congresses by the national publicity secretary, Mr. Felix Morka.
Furthermore, the schedule indicates that the congresses are starting 26th October, 2024 (Ward), 2nd November 2024 (LGA congress) and 9th November, 2024 (State Congress).
In Bayelsa state our correspondent reports that the APC had been factionalised by the former governor Chief Timipre Sylva and the current Minister of state Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lopkobiri who are daggers drawn over the control of the party.
Penultimate week the local government chairmen of Ekeramor and Southern Ijaw said they have suspended the minister and his loyalists, similarly the former governorship candidate Chief David Lyon and his supporters were also suspended.
On their part, loyalists of the Minister said the suspension was null and void because in the eyes of the law the executives that suspended them was sacked by a state high court since 2019.
A chieftain of the party High Chief Osom Blankson who address the press in Yenagoa said “I saw on social media yesterday, in fact, last night, a press briefing organized by the purported APC state chairman led by Dr Dennis Otiotio and Hon Victor-Ben to the fact that there is no pending appeal.
“They said that the case was to stop the party from producing candidates and as that was not achieved, the matter has been abandoned.
“You see, it’s a sad commentary, I’m feeling very sad to hear that from one who is supposed to be an assembly member, who should know the workings of the court.
“The court delivered judgment. Nobody appealed. This is the full judgment and if you permit me, I will read just the last paragraph of the holding of the court, so you know the consequences of the actions that these people have taken.
The last paragraph says: “An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants(APC and co) its privies and or agents from parading any person as a Ward, Local Government and State Party Leaders/Officers in Bayelsa State, pending the determination of Motion on Notice and suit No: YHC/107/2021 is also hereby granted. Dated this 20th day of January, 2023.”
“So the implication is that there is an existing court judgement and a restraining order barring these persons, including Dr Dennis Otiotio and the entire excos and party officials that was produced by that Congress.
“And so what this means is that they are in contempt. They appealed it and file for a stay of proceedings and later withdrew the stay of proceedings and so if he said that we abandoned the matter, if that is his understanding that is sad. If you appeal and the respondent does not respond to your appeal its means that whatever you are praying, the court will grant it because there is no counter appeal.
“We have taken steps to institute contempt proceedings against everybody that flouted the judgment. You see, when people take laws into their hands as if there is no law, sometimes it’s good to tell the public that there’s actually law, the law actually exists.
“And so when there is a court judgment and you are asked to do a particular thing and you refrain or you decided to do the opposite, the law will take its effect. So for us, we won’t make any further comments on this matter again.”
Barr. Blackson also faulted the call by the purported Chairman of the APC, Barr. Dennis Otiotio for the State Governor, Gov. Douye Diri to call one of his Commissioners to order over his alleged involvement in the crisis, saying such call should be directed to Otiotio and few others who have violated the Court order and allegedly violated the santity of the court by attacking the litigant and others who supported the suit against the party.
He said “Talking about perpetuating violence, Otiotio is the number one man to be arrested , you can recall that in 2023 this case was filed before Justice Aganaba and when it was time to deliver judgement , Otiotio mobilized thugs to the court and attacked the judge”.
“I was equally there and I was also attacked , it was by the help of other people that I was able to come out of the court. Some of the hoodlums were arrested and taken to court but one of them is still at large.”
“So the police is doing their job diligently if people like Otiotio a senior lawyer could desecrate the court, who is more of a violent person than him. The Commissioner for Power has not done anything, it is on record in this state that a court of law was desecrated because of this matter.”
“So when we talk of violence, Otiotio is the one to be arrested and needs to be arrested. I’m challenging him, I have records because the ones that were arrested also told the police how they were mobilized down to the court, so I challenge him to deny it.”
Political Observers believe that the suspension was as a result of the forthcoming congresses which are billed for the weekend.
A political analyst Ebitimi Ofoniama said “You know this fighting in Bayelsa APC between Senator Lopkobiri and the former governor Timipre Sylva is over who would control the party come 2027. And you know the congresses are by the corner, so the hullabaloo is all about who would be the machinery of the party, before 2027.”
Also, Mr. Appah Tebeowei noted that “Issue of who is the leader between Lopkobiri and Sylva is making their supporters to calm leadership and strongly too fetching ownership on the party”.