By Adedapo Adesanya
APC Mandate Defenders (APCMD), a support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has adopted Mr Frankland Briyai, as its candidate for the August 29 governorship primaries of the party in Bayelsa State.
Mr Briyai previously served as the immediate past Residence Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Cross River State.
The national publicity secretary of the group, Mr Ifeanyi Emeka, speaking after its emergency meeting in Abuja, noted that it endorsed the former INEC top shot based on his pedigree and competence that they believe will deliver victory to the party in the state governorship election that will hold on November 16, 2019.
The group further noted that Mr Briyai is well acceptable to all stakeholders in the state and as such believes that such an impeccable attribute is what the party requires for unification and victory in the oil rich state of Bayelsa.
The group also called on the national, state and ward leadership of the party to regularize his membership status by not only issuing him party membership card but by granting him waiver and ensuring that his name enters the national register of the party.
Mr Emeka said, “We believe that Dr. Briyai should be adopted as the party’s consensus candidate but where such demand is not possible, we call on party stakeholders, members or delegates as the case may be to ensure the victory of Dr. Briyai in the forthcoming party primary,”
“Our decision is based on our findings which shows that Bayelsa electorates are tired of the same old faces and names that keep appearing at every election time.
Hence, the general mood of the state suggests that Bayelsans are ready for a new face, name and personality on the ballot this time around,” the spokesman revealed.
Stating reasons for the group’s decision on Mr Briyai, he said that this is based on the intractable conflicts and crisis of confidence among leaders and supporters of the party in the state and that his aspiration is appealing to all segments of the society, including the youths, men and women, old and young in the state.
Therefore, in order to strike a balance and solidify the base of the party ahead of the November polls, the party needed to field a tested, trusted and reliable aspirant in the person of Mr Briyai, the group said.
The APC Mandate Defenders then called on party leaders and members to support Mr Briyai to get the nomination of the party in the coming August 29 primary.
Modupe Gbadeyanka