the Pembroke West by-election primary, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

For would-be MP Wayne Soares -- already campaigning for next week's preliminary contest -- is not even eligible to stand against ex-party chairman and former Senator Gary Pitman.

Spanish Point man Mr. Soares is due to contest the primary with Mr. Pitman on January 23 -- but he is technically time-barred under the party's own code of conduct.

Now the problem has sparked a crisis in the UBP, with top officials and the party's Campaign Committee trying to sort out the mess.

Bemused political newcomer Mr. Soares admitted yesterday his primary spot was up in the air.

He said: "There is a condition and it hasn't been carried out.

"But I don't want to prejudge or make any statements until the committee makes its decision. But it is quite clear in the rules I don't meet the criteria if the primary is held on January 23 -- it could be held later.

"The other option is I don't qualify and I have to withdraw as a candidate.

"But I'm still out there working the constituency and talking to as many people as possible.'' According to party rules, Mr. Soares should have been an approved candidate and submitted the signatures of ten party members to the party's hierarchy 14 days before the primary -- last Friday.

But, as of this week, he had still not supplied the names or become an officially approved candidate.

And it is understood party rules also insist that primary candidates must have been party members for 30 days -- which means Mr. Soares cannot officially be approved until tomorrow at the earliest.

That should mean that the only candidate eligible for selection as the by-election candidate is Mr. Pitman.

But -- in a change to rules used for more than five years -- the UBP Campaign Committee apparently ignored the regulations to give Mr. Soares a shot at the primary.

And that has led to suspicion in some quarters that he has powerful backers on the committee -- which approves candidates for selection by branches -- and that they are prepared to ignore the rules to promote his chances.

It is understood the party held a top-level meeting on Monday to try and clear up the problem.

UBP executive officer Oliver Bain yesterday declined to comment and referred questions to the party's acting chairman Ronald Viera.

The news has fuelled speculation that powerful figures in the UBP are determined to put a spanner in the works of Mr. Pitman's bid for a seat in the House of Assembly.

It is understood at least two members of the Campaign Committee have bent over backwards to accommodate Mr. Soares' bid.

Campaign Committee chairman is Susan Wilson -- a powerful backroom figure in the UBP and a resident in the Pembroke West constituency.

Neither Mrs. Wilson or Mr. Viera could be contacted for comment yesterday. Mr.

Pitman did not return several calls from The Royal Gazette .

It was reported on Tuesday that battlelines in the constituency were hardening into an insider v. outsider fight between local man Mr. Soares and party chief Mr. Pitman.

Yesterday, businessman and former UBP candidate Ramadhin Smith -- who considered a primary run, but pulled out -- said he would be backing Mr.

Pitman.

He said: "I don't think there is a substitute for experience. I've known Gary for a long time -- I respect him immensely, both inside and out of politics.'' Earlier, Pembroke West resident Kevin Winter, who also considered running in the primary, threw his weight behind Mr. Soares. That move followed an advert in The Royal Gazette from ex-branch chairman Joyce Hall endorsing Mr. Pitman.