The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has produced its candidates for the National Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections, with returning lawmakers and fresh contenders emerging from the party's primaries.
Among the notable winners was Oforji Oboku, who secured the APC ticket for Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency for a second term.
Rodney Ambaiowei also retained the party's ticket for Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, emerging for another term in the House of Representatives.
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Other winners from the primaries include Bernard Kenebai for Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Jude Rex-Ogbuku for Ogbia Federal Constituency, and Jonathan Obuebite for Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency, all emerging as first-time candidates of the party.
The outcome of the primaries reflects the party's attempt to combine experienced lawmakers with new political entrants ahead of what is expected to be a competitive election cycle in Bayelsa State.
Chairman of the APC Electoral Panel for the National Assembly primaries in Bayelsa, Solomon Ogba, had earlier assured party members that the exercise would be free, transparent, and peaceful.
Speaking during a press briefing in Yenagoa before the commencement of voting, Ogba said election materials had already been distributed across the state ahead of the exercise.
He explained that the party adopted the direct primary option in line with the Electoral Act to produce candidates for Senate and House of Representatives positions.
"This is to signal the commencement of the process for picking our candidates for the House of Representatives and the Senate for the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State," he said.
Ogba added that the exercise was conducted in compliance with Section 84, Subsection 2 of the Electoral Act, which provides for direct primaries.
He further stated that officials deployed for the exercise were carefully selected to ensure fairness and credibility.
"We have painstakingly selected people that will conduct the elections in all the wards and federal constituencies for this exercise. They are people of proven integrity, and we believe they will discharge this responsibility fairly," he said.
The panel chairman also disclosed that consensus-building efforts in several constituencies contributed to the smooth conduct of the primaries across the state.
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"We're also aware that there's a lot of consensus building in many of the constituencies. And we are likely going to have very smooth elections," he added.
Ogba commended the Bayelsa State Government and residents for maintaining peace throughout the exercise, noting that the calm atmosphere contributed significantly to the successful conduct of the primaries.
