BAYELSA/NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRIMARIES: Chief Inko Rejects Consensus Plot, Warns Gov. Douye Diri Against Actions That Could Trigger Legal Battles

BAYELSA/NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRIMARIES: Chief Inko Rejects Consensus Plot, Warns Gov. Douye Diri Against Actions That Could Trigger Legal Battlesrnrn"SAY NO TO CONSENSUS CANDIDATES"rnrnA human rights activist and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Inko Brightstar, popularly known as Whoknows Tomorrow, has strongly kicked against any attempt to impose consensus candidates ahead of the forthcoming Bayelsa State and National Assembly primaries.rnrnChief Inko made this position known while en route to Abuja, following reports that the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, allegedly directed constituencies to shortlist three aspirants each from which a final candidate would be selected.rnrnAccording to information gathered, an 18-man committee is reportedly being set up across constituencies to screen aspirants and produce three “consensus candidates” for onward selection.rnrnReacting to the development, Chief Inko described the move as contrary to the already established guidelines of the party’s national leadership, which clearly stipulate direct primaries—a process that allows all registered, card-carrying party members to participate in choosing candidates.rnrnHe acknowledged that while the party constitution provides for three modes of primaries—direct, indirect, and consensus—the National Working Committee has already adopted direct primaries for this election circle.rnrn“There is no justification for deviating from a clearly stated directive by the party leadership,” he stated.rnrnChief Inko emphasized that although the governor remains the leader of the party in the state, matters concerning primaries fall strictly within the jurisdiction of party executives. He urged the governor to allow party structures to function independently without interference.rnrnHe further warned that any attempt to manipulate the process could be perceived as a strategy to sideline more popular aspirants in favor of preferred political allies.rnrn“Allowing just an 18-man committee to determine the fate of thousands of constituents is undemocratic and a direct affront to the fundamental rights of party members,” he said.rnrnChief Inko concluded by advising Governor Diri to respect the party’s directive and maintain the status quo by allowing direct primaries to hold, warning that any deviation could lead to avoidable litigations capable of destabilizing the party ahead of the general elections.