A FORMER Sinn Fein Council Chairman has said he “wouldn't be surprised” if a selection convention by his party which saw MLA Phil Flanagan deselected in December was 'rigged'.

Stephen Huggett, who served on Fermanagh District Council, said “there were irregularities” during the first internal vote in December and revealed that “strange things had been going on.”

After Sinn Fein decided to rerun the selection process for a second time on Sunday, Mr. Flanagan was reselected to contest May's election in Fermanagh-south Tyrone. But Michelle Gildernew who was selected the first time was dropped after failing to secure enough votes from party members.

The three Sinn Fein candidates going forward for May's election, subject to ratification from the party's leadership, are Mr. Flanagan, his Assembly colleague Sean Lynch and John Feely, a councillor on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, who topped the internal vote.

In a further twist, MLA Bronwyn McGahan unexpectedly decided to run for selection despite announcing back in December her intention to stand down at the end of this Assembly term. But like Ms. Gildernew she too failed to get the support required at the weekend.

The all-male line-up jars with Sinn Fein's policy of encouraging more women into politics but according to Mr. Huggett “it's not the end of the story.”

“You don't know what will happen. The result of this selection convention has to be ratified by the Ard Chomhairle and I'd hardly think they are going to allow this to stand. With no woman standing, with no one from Dungannon standing, you must be joking,” he told The Impartial Reporter.

Mr. Huggett was asked why Sinn Fein decided to hold a second selection convention.

“I know perfectly well; because there were irregularities [during the first convention]... something about the votes not tallying.”

Asked to respond to speculation on social media that the first vote which ended up in Mr. Flanagan, seen as a controversial party member, being deselected was rigged, Mr. Huggett said: “I wouldn't be a bit surprised. I think it was fairly well put at the election convention [on Sunday] that that was the opinion certainly of a large minority... that strange things had been going on.”

Mr. Huggett, who voted for Mr. Flanagan on Sunday because “he is the most effective MLA” was not full of optimism for Mr. Feely's chances of getting elected. Asked how he thought he would do, he said: “I don't know. John has his talents, hasn't got very much experience, but he certainly has brains to burn. Whether he can get support, nobody knows. He hasn't got much of a profile, it will be difficult for him.”

Mr. Feely on the other hand remains upbeat and positive about his chances and described the deselection of Ms. Gildernew, a former MP and Stormont Minister for the area, as “a massive loss.”

“It's a massive loss to Fermanagh-south Tyrone. She's not lost to the people, she's not lost to the area. Unfortunately numbers maybe weren't there [on Sunday], maybe there was just all Fermanagh people on the night. She wasn't selected for any other reason. Everybody is in shock,” he said.

A Sinn Fein source told The Impartial Reporter that Mr. Feely topped Sunday's vote, followed by Mr. Lynch, Mr. Flanagan, Ms. Gildernew and Ms. McGahan. But he wouldn't comment on that.

“To be honest with you, I'll not be commenting on that. It was an internal party meeting and whatever numbers any of us got I won't be discussing it,” said Mr. Feely.

Asked why a second convention was held, he said: “It was no great importance... the thing had to be done right so it was done a second time.”

Asked if the first convention was not carried out correctly, Mr. Feely said: “When I say it wasn't done right it's not that it wasn't done wrong, it's just things weren't ticked... wee boxes weren't ticked. That's not what happened... that boxes weren't ticked... everything had to be done correctly and proper procedure, it was a procedure.”

Asked again if the first convention was not carried out properly, he said: “As I say, it was a slight procedural thing. The Ard Chomhairle just wanted it done to make sure everything was done correctly.”

Asked if the first convention was 'rigged' as suggested by some on social media, Mr. Feely said: “That's not right. Some people on social media? Anyone within the party say that? If you go on Twitter you can find a lot of stuff. Absolutely not. That it was rigged? No, not at all. If you go on Twitter and Facebook and stuff you'll find there was no moon landing and stuff. Anyone can go on Twitter and say anything they want,” he said.

Mr. Flanagan, who has been given a second chance, refused to answer almost all of the questions posed by this newspaper. “I'm not answering all those questions,” he replied.

“I am pleased to have been selected by the party membership locally to contest the Assembly election in May. I am proud of my record of providing the people of Fermanagh with a strong and articulate voice since my election to Stormont in 2011 and I am looking forward to the challenge presented by the upcoming campaign.

“This convention, like the last one, will be subject to ratification by An Ard Chomhairle Sinn Féin in due course. All I want to say about Michelle Gildernew at this stage is she has been a first class public representative for this constituency since 1996. She is a very good friend of mine and someone who I, and many, many others hold in the highest possible regard both personally and politically,” he said.

Mr. Lynch was asked if the first convention was rigged and as of yesterday afternoon he – and the party press office – had not replied. Instead, in an earlier statement, Mr. Lynch paid tribute to both Ms. Gildernew and Ms. McGahan.

“Michelle is a member of the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle. She continues to work for Sinn Féin in a senior capacity and brings more than 25 years of experience, activism and commitment to her role.

“Bronwyn McGahon will serve out her term as an MLA for the constituency. Bronwyn has been a hard-working and committed public representative who has done much to improve the quality of life of people in the constituency,” he said.

Mr. Lynch stated that his party “is committed to encouraging more women to entering the world of politics and participating in the democratic process” and added: “Sinn Féin has led the way in promoting women.”

One woman whose career in front-line politics will soon be over is Bronwyn McGahan. When contacted by this newspaper, the MLA said: “All I can say is that this is now a matter for the Ard Chomhairle. We await that decision and I can't say anything else.”

She said she was encouraged to put her name forward for the second convention “by constituents, the party and party members.”

Asked why she decided to stand again after previously announcing her decision not to contest the election, Ms. McGahan said: “I don't want to get into that, I have already going beyond what I should be saying. I don't want to get into any detail on that.”