From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as peaceful, transparent, and successful.
Speaking shortly after monitoring the exercise in Ward 8, Ekeremor, Senator Lokpobiri commended APC members for their orderly conduct and commitment throughout the process.
According to him, the presidential primary was part of the party’s broader exercise to nominate candidates for the 2027 general elections, following earlier primaries conducted for the Senate, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly positions.
“Today’s exercise is specifically for the nomination of the APC presidential candidate for the 2027 election,” he said.
The minister noted that although he could not vote due to his position as a political appointee, which legally disqualifies him from participating in the voting process, he observed the exercise as a party leader.
“As you can see, this is my ward, Ward 8 in Ekeremor, with over 13,000 registered APC members. By law, I am not eligible to vote or be voted for because I am a political appointee. However, I am here as an observer, and I am very happy that the exercise in my ward was peaceful and successful,” he stated.
Lokpobiri expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the primary across the local government area, saying reports from the 12 wards indicated that the exercise was peaceful throughout.
“We are very happy that this exercise started peacefully and is ending peacefully as well. What we have witnessed here is similar to what took place across all the wards in the local government area,” he said.
He maintained that the APC remained united and fully prepared for the 2027 general elections, expressing confidence that the party would record a landslide victory in Ekeremor Local Government Area.
“There is practically no other political party in my area or in the state again. What you have now is a united APC. Any politician you do not find here today can simply be described as a retired politician,” he said.
The minister further declared that the APC would secure overwhelming support in the area during the 2027 polls.
“I can assure you that APC will secure about 99.9 percent of the votes in Ekeremor Local Government Area in 2027. We are united, strong, and ready to confront any candidate from any other political party,” he added.
Speaking on the outcome of the presidential primary, Lokpobiri said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu enjoyed massive support among party members across the state.
“From what you have seen here, those contesting against Mr. President recorded zero votes. That same pattern will likely be replicated across the 105 wards in the state. It is total support — 100 percent,” he stated.
Speaking at the occasion, the Bayelsa State Representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Denyanbofa Dimaro, thanked party members and supporters for voting massively for APC candidates during the primaries and urged them to sustain the same level of support during the 2027 general elections.
Other speakers at the event, including Hon. Living Mitin and Tari-Ere Joyce Gita, the APC House of Assembly candidates for Constituencies 1 and 3 respectively, as well as the APC senatorial candidate, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki, also commended the people for their overwhelming support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the presidential primary. They called on party faithful to remain united and replicate the same support and commitment for the APC during the 2027 general elections.
