A female gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Prof. Ongoebi Maureen Orubide Etebu, has advocated peaceful primary across all 105 wards of Bayelsa State, as members troupe out in their numbers to exercise their franchise
on Friday, 14th April, 2023, to chose the party’s flag bearer towards the November 11th 2023 gubernatorial poll.
Prof Orubide Etebu, assures that going by the track record of all six aspirants jossling for the primary post, she is assured that the exercise shall be rancour-free, fair, transparent and credible.
The kaiama-born Intellectual, and pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the first Maritime University in Nigeria, Prof Orubide Etebu, a former two-time Commissioner, blessed God for the safe arrival of national officials of the party from the headquarters in Abuja to Bayelsa State to supervise the conduct of the primary election, as she expressed confidence in the modalities already put in place for a free, fair and credible APC primary poll.
“As we all know, the party (APC) is known to adhere to basic principles of credible primaries. This is not my first time of vying for the Governorship poll and it has always been transparent and fair. Today’s primary shall not be diffrent. It’s just a contest among political siblings and the best shall get the nod of the party members in Bayelsa State.name we all shall accept the outcome.” She reiterated.
Prof. Ongoebi Etebu called on all aspirants who might not be lucky enough, to accept the outcome of today’s primary, as it can only be one amongst all of the six aspirants, that shall occupy the slot of being the party’s flag bearer.
The “Jesu-Uge” crooner, as Prof Orubide Etebu is fondly known as, used the opportunity to felicitate with the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on his victory at the just concluded Nigeria’s General Elections, as she made reference to the APC Presidential Primary last year in Abuja, that set the pace for the party’s strict adherence to internal democratic best practices, as observed by the electoral umpire, INEC and other observers.
According to her, “that practice of a peaceful primary poll shall be replicated in Bayelsa primary.”
The top female APC gubernatorial aspirant in Bayelsa State, also acknowledged the party leader, Chief Timipre Sylva, for creating an enabling environment for aspirants, as this shows that it is an internal family affair with no victor, no vanquished!
“I urge all party members across Bayelsa State to go out to vote their preferred aspirant as I, as an aspirant, I am happy with the peaceful and professional manner put in place by the National Committee in charge of the primary process. May the best win as we all shall work for the party for the general good at the November 11th poll.” Prof. Ongoebi Etebu concluded.
