Bayelsa: Gov aspirants set to defy PDP Featured
Written by  Olusola Fabiyi and Mike Odiegwu

   


THE crisis in the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party worsened at the weekend as aggrieved aspirants in the party’s November 19 primaries vowed to defy the party’s order to support Seriake Dickson, winner of the primaries. Dickson is widely believed to enjoy the support of President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from the state.

THE PUNCH gathered, on Monday, that the party had ordered the aspirants to support Dickson or face its wrath. Our correspondents also learnt that the party had threatened to expel the aspirants if they pressed ahead with the court actions they instituted against the November 19 exercise and the candidacy of Dickson.

The PDP leadership is said to be worried that Governor Timipre Sylva, who it refused to clear to contest the party’s governorship primaries, may be behind the protests and legal actions that have stalled its reconciliatory efforts.

Nearly all the state party chiefs, Bayelsa lawmakers in the National Assembly and State House of Assembly are yet to declare support for Dickson.

Three of the failed aspirants, Messrs Boloubo Orufa, Christopher Enai and Austin Febo, have protested that the primary that produced Dickson as the party candidate was marred by irregularities.

Enai told our correspondent that the party had asked them to suspend their plan to seek the cancellation of the primary in court and to accept its final decision on Dickson.

He, however, vowed that the suit would be continued, describing PDP as an ungrateful party.

He said, "They are threatening that nobody should go to court and that the decision of the party is final. But PDP constitution cannot be superior to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They have not done the right thing but they are threatening us. Who are they threatening? The hope of the ordinary man remains the court and if the court fails, I am going to move over to another party.

"PDP is not God. God is the owner of the universe who rules over the affairs of men. I will go to court and if the court fails, I will go to another party to contest. PDP is ungrateful. I was not a PDP man in 1999. I was a member of the National Solidarity Movement and on that platform I won the local government election and had an alliance with PDP and brought the governor and the deputy governor to power winning the highest votes in Ekeremor Local Government Area with 49000 vote difference.

"What did they see in Dickson? Dickson has not contested any election and won. They said everybody should accept Dickson and nobody should go to court. They have not started. PDP has not seen something."

When Orufa was asked by our correspondent whether he had been threatened by the party, he said no formal letter of such development had been sent to him. He, however, did not speak about his next line of action.

But the acting state Chairman of the party, Mr. James Dugo, told our correspondent that the leadership of the party had no plan to punish its aggrieved members.

He said, "The party is not threatening to expel them. Who is the party that will expel them? Is it not me and my executive members that will make such recommendations?"

It is a game and it is one family. That is to tell you that everybody has come together to chart a common course. We are not going to do anything against the lawmakers from the state and the national levels that boycotted party organised primary for obvious reasons.

"This is because their master has been disqualified from the party and they are trying to be loyal to the master who is, however, disobedient to the party. But we would not use a sledge hammer to kill a rat for its sin. Rather, as parent to all these people, we have to advise them that it is a party business and not Sylva’s business. The party at the national can say that they don’t want Sylva, so he should not keep people in bondage. "

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali, could not be reached on Sunday as he neither picked his call nor responded to a text message sent to his mobile telephone number on the subject

But a source at the party secretariat in Abuja confirmed the decision to compel the aggrieved governorship aspirants to support Dickson.

"Any member of the party who is unhappy with some or any decisions of the party should use existing channels of communication within the party to seek redress," the source said.

jmaine:

Guess imposition is only a PDP sin . .interesting . . .

jmaine:

Guess imposition is only a PDP sin . .interesting . . .

jmaine:

Guess imposition is only a PDP sin . .interesting . . .

jmaine:

Guess imposition is only a PDP sin . .interesting . . .

na_so:

very smart question. people are pretending  not to understand your  question and giving us "you GEJ supporters " bla bla bla.

Bayelsa na my state , the people have rejected sylva  and so shall it remain.

Diskson may not be the perfect replacement people would have wanted, but there are only very few things in life worse than that misfortune called sylva.

"What did they see in Dickson? Dickson has not contested any election and won. They said everybody should accept Dickson and nobody should go to court.

egift:

And here comes the spin-doctor (where are your colleagues? Beaf and weereri? - whatever).

What are my spinning sir . . .You could kindly inform the house . . . .

Gbawe:

My brother, you miss the obvious sarcasm. Egift gets it. The most deluded Nairalanders , because they support GEJ blindly, have transferred rabid defense of personalities to supporting everything those individuals are affiliated with to include a basket case political Party capable of doing no good.

I got your sarcasm very well bruv . . .was just applying the checks so that your intentions would not be hijacked by people . . .who are only one sided in their approach of thoughts . . . They may not see your sarcasm angle but would rather chose to equate imposition only to the PDP . . .

Funkymallam:

And when is ACN, APGA and co holding their primaries? Or primaries dont exist in their dictionaries?

DEM ALL CRAZZZYY INDEED!

"PDP is reforming" indeed. "Fresh air" imposing his annointed on others? I am shocked !!!!!

babasoty:

Ahhh finally they learnt something good from ACN.

Gbawe:

For the avoidance of confusion, let me state categorically that I acknowledge it here that the ACN is guilty of imposition also. I am not into self-deception

bashy_demy:

i totally disagree with you on this,  how will you say ACN is guilty of imposition? this is Party where there is a stable agreement,  all the party elder sit tight and choose a rightful candidate that will win an Election for the Party not just anybody and after there Primary did you see any Aspirant in court challenging the primary like PDP does,  ACN is a strong Party with people who know how Politics work,  They know the right Candidate to face am opposition Party/Candidate