A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, Mr David Perebo, has criticised Governor Douye Diri over the conduct of the party’s ward and local government congresses, alleging exclusion of key stakeholders.
Perebo, a founding member of the party in the state, in a statement issued in Yenagoa on Wednesday, described the congresses as divisive and unfair to longstanding members who helped build the party’s structure.
He alleged that the process amounted to a witch-hunt against certain leaders and stakeholders, claiming that loyal party members were sidelined in favour of recent defectors.
According to him, executives of the party in Sagbama also protested their exclusion, expressing dissatisfaction with what they called a lack of inclusiveness in the congresses conducted across wards and local government areas.
Perebo further accused the governor of attempting to take control of the party’s structure in the state by installing loyalists in key positions across councils, including Brass, Nembe, Yenagoa, Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma.
He also alleged that the governor was positioning an ally, Mr Gesiye Isowo, to emerge as the state party chairman, claiming the move was part of a broader strategy to dominate the party ahead of future elections.
The APC chieftain equally faulted the reported nomination of Pastor Peter Pereotubo Akpe as deputy governor, alleging that the administration was turning governance in the state into a “family enterprise.”
He maintained that political appointments under the present administration were skewed towards individuals with close ties to the governor, contrary to what he described as the tradition of equitable distribution across the state’s senatorial districts.
Perebo also accused the governor of disregarding party leaders and political associates who supported his rise to power, alleging that decisions were being taken without adequate consultation.
Efforts to get the governor’s response were unsuccessful as of press time.
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