Former Bayelsa State governor-elect, David Lyon, has paid N50million to purchase the nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the governorship election billed to hold this year.
This is just as his supporters have asked the national leadership of the APC to grant him the right of first refusal in appreciation of his past success at the poll before pitting him against other aspirants to fight for the sole ticket.
Lyon and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, were removed by the Supreme Court on February 13, 2022 on grounds that Degi-Eremieoyo presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The APC had announced that the governorship primary election holds on Monday, April 10, 2023, while the Congress to ratify the results of Imo and Bayelsa governorship primaries takes place on April 11.
Addressing journalists after Lyon’s supporters picked up his forms at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Friday, the pioneer secretary of the APC in Bayelsa State, Merlin Daniel, regretted that Lyon is being denied the opportunity of rescuing the state as governor.
He said, “Today we are presenting our Principal Chief David Lyon as a household name in this country.
“A young man that gallantly fought a very colossus governor and won him, unfortunately, the arms of the law were twisted against him and he was denied the opportunity of being the governor of Bayelsa state to save that state.
“Today we are back here to get the form for him to go back and contest this election. Ordinarily, and under normal circumstances, he was supposed to be given the right of first refusal by the party. Sales of forms are not supposed to be made open because he’s the only person that can win the election for APC in Bayelsa state, as it stands now.
“I am taking this message to the national executive and whoever is concerned, that if they want APC to produce the next Governor of Bayelsa State, there is no doubt that it is picking Chief David Lyon as a candidate for the party
“Chief David Lyon has been tested, tried and trusted. As I talk to you, every day, the PDP-led administration is inviting pastors and Imams from different quarters to go and pray that David Lyon will not become the candidate for APC. He is their nightmare. They are comfortable with every other person, but with him, they know they are off. That has been their prayer.
“I can confidently and categorically tell the world that if David Lyon is given the ticket today, to represent the party more than half of the membership of PDP will come back to the APC.”
Daniel urged the national secretariat of the APC to ensure that there is a level playing ground for everybody if there is going to be anybody that will contest.
