David Lyon, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor in Bayelsa State in the 2019 elections, has submitted his Nomination and Expression of Interest forms to contest in the party’s primary elections, scheduled for April 10, 2023.
Speaking to reporters after submitting his forms, Lyon requested that the APC’s national leadership grant him the right of first refusal before the party's primary. This would give him the opportunity to participate in the primaries, and if he wins, he will become the party’s candidate in the governorship election.
In 2019, Lyon was declared the winner of the governorship election in Bayelsa State, but his victory was overturned by the Supreme Court on the grounds that his running mate, Degi Eremienyo Wangagra, had provided a fake certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court awarded the victory to Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had come second in the election.
In the meantime, Festus Daumiebi, a prominent businessman and leader of the APC, has joined Timipre Sylva and David Lyon in the race for the party’s governorship ticket.
While Sylva and Lyon purchased their forms at the APC headquarters in Abuja, a group of Ijaw youths under the New Bayelsa Movement purchased Daumiebi's gubernatorial form and presented it to him at his home in Yenagoa.
In his acceptance speech, Daumiebi thanked the young people for their support and sacrifice, stating that it would be wicked and demonic for him to turn down their call to run for governor.
He added that the APC leadership must do the right thing and not take the actions of young people for granted if they want to win back their mandate in the state.
Daumiebi promised the youths and the people of Bayelsa State that, if elected, his government would not be one of political party but rather one of Bayelsa State people, irrespective of political affiliations.
He also stated that he had a good relationship with both former Governor Timipre Sylva and former Governor-elect David Lyon, whom he referred to as his political leaders, allies, and friends.
Jonathan Lokpobiri, a former chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and a youth spokesman, said that the time had come for young people to get involved in politics and take control of their fate.
He added that they want Daumiebi to run for governor because he is young and has made a name for himself.
As young people, Lokpobiri said, they must take direct steps in changing their destiny, and that they would not allow political leaders to make decisions for them.
He added that they had decided to come together and pick one of them to lead Bayelsa State.
With the APC’s governorship primary election just weeks away, the race for the party’s ticket in Bayelsa State is heating up.
As the APC leadership considers the requests of David Lyon and other aspirants for the right of first refusal, it remains to be seen who will emerge as the party’s candidate for the governorship election.
However, what is clear is that the involvement of young people in the political process is becoming increasingly important, and that their voices are being heard.