By: Odieh Ramon, Yenagoa.

The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared 72 out of a total of 76 aspirants who procured and submitted nomination forms to contest for its primary elections.

An inside source disclosed that the reason for denying others clearance was due to alleged refusal to sign an agreement on ‘voluntary withdrawal’ from the race, which is seen by some of the aspirants as a tactic to chicken them out of the race.

Our reporter, who has been monitoring developments in the State, reports that already the purchase/submission of expression of interest/nomination forms has ended.

The eight local government areas of Bayelsa are delineated into 24 State Constituencies.

Meanwhile, shortly after the close of sale/submission of nomination forms, a second round of screening exercise was carried out by the party’s national Secretariat for the aspirants, with names of cleared aspirants now shortlisted, signalling the end of the screening exercise.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere is said to be eyeing a return to the House unopposed by other aspirants from the party in his Brass Constituency three seat.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the screening committee for the Assembly aspirants, Engr Iboro Ekanem, described the exercise as peaceful and transparent.

He noted that his committee’s work was just to screen the aspirants who had submitted their nomination forms, promising to execute its functions meticulously to prevent litigations that may come thereafter.

In their separate remarks, former Chairman of Ogbia local government area, Chief Ebiango Egain, an aspirant for the Ogbia Constituency one Assembly seat, expressed the optimism that he would win the primaries.

He emphasized his readiness to synergize with stakeholders across his constituency and the State to work towards a more impactful leadership if elected in the 2027 polls.

Egain noted that it was time those who have made impacts and are popular across party lines get elected into the state legislature.

“You can’t stop the rain from falling. You can see the mammoth crowed which has accompanied me just to submit my nomination form. Imagine what will happen during the elections. Victory is sure. It’s time to elect those who have made impacts in peoples lives into the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. Ogbia constituency one can’t be left out this time”, he said.

Also speaking, Engr. Tonbara Inegbegha, aspirant for the Southern Ijaw constituency one, promised to continue touching the lives of his constituents if he emerges as the candidate in the primaries and eventually wins in the general elections.

He charged youths to take up political leadership, saying older folks should leave the House of Assembly seats for much younger and vibrant youth, just as he described the forthcoming APC primaries as decision-making time for youths across the state.

“Older folks should leave the House of Assembly seats for youths. The State Assembly, for me, is the beginning of leadership for youths to learn the political landscape. Our youths are vibrant and productive. And if elected, I’ll bring this to bear in my tenure as an assembly member”, he said.

Reacting to functions of the screening committee and those in charge of the nomination forms, some aspirants for the Ogbia constituency three expressed their desire to continue reaching out to their constituents and stakeholders to micro-zone the assembly seat to their ward.

Ogbia Constituency three comprises 12 communities, which are delineated into four wards, including Kolo one-three and Amorokeni, ward 9, Imiringi and Elebele, ward 8, Emeyal one and Emeyal 2, ward 7, and Otuasega, Yiba-Ama(Oruma), Ibelebiri and Otuegwe two, ward six.

Our correspondents further gathered that Ogbia Constituency has three parades a total of five aspirants, including Dr Peter Isu, Dr(Barr.) Michael Priesthood, Gabriel Ogbara, Monday Eribo, and Champion ThankGod Obom.

“Ward nine of the Ogbia constituency three has, for too long, been marginalized. Considering the number of tenures sister wards have produced assembly members for the constituency, it would be politically correct for stakeholders to give ward nine the privilege to produce the next assembly member come 2027,” Dr Isu said.

The assembly hopefuls contended that they have the requisite support base to win the general elections for the party, promising to conduct themselves according to the expectations of constituents if elected.

Interestingly, serving members of the House staging return to the assembly have continued to remain silent without speaking with the media, a situation observers predicted may be unconnected to the alleged exclusion of some of them from participating in the forthcoming primaries due to zoning arrangements in their constituencies and other yet to be identified social expediencies.