The battle line has been drawn between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state as the supplementary election to elect the next governor of the state is in a few days time.
News that filtered in yesterday Monday, January 4 had it that the immediate past president of the country, Dr Goodluck Jonathan was named by an International Magazine as the ‘person of the year.’ The next appropriate question to ask is if Jonathan’s influence and the accolades he is receiving some days to the election will swing victory to the incumbent governor, Seriake d*ckson.
Seriake d*ckson, governor of Bayelsa state
Come Saturday, January 9, one of the keenly governorship election in the political history of Nigeria will be conducted and contested. The 2 frontliners are political titans who know the pros and cons of Bayelsa politics. They are the current governor and the PDP’s candidate, Seriake d*ckson and a one time governor and the APC’s candidate, Timipre Sylva.
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It was learnt of recent that the incumbent governor of the state is planning to decamp to the APC in order to save his political career. The caption of Sun newspaper of Thursday, December 31, 2015 had it as, “War Of Words Over d*ckson’s Visit To Aso Rock.” The newspaper learnt that the APC in a statement by its Director of Publicity, ChiefNathan Egba said the surprise visit of d*ckson was to lobby President Muhammadu Buhari for soft-landing in the event he is defeated inthe re-run slated for January 9.
Other reports had it that his opponent on the other side has been seeking spiritual help in order to guarantee his victory after the Saturday supplementary election.
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According to a report on this same platform, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Bayelsa state, Baritor Kpagih was accused of collecting N200million bribe from Governor Seriake d*ckson. This allegation was made by Francis Asmakia Ted, the supervisory presiding officer (SPO) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Some of the ways in which Jonathan’s influence could earn d*ckson victory include the sympathy the Ijaws have for the ex-president. In addition, since the people of Bayelsa still listens to Jonathan, they may want to do his bidding by possibly voting for ther present governor. Another fear factor is losing the state to the APC which may spell the end of the PDP in the Bayelsa state.
In the words of Governor d*ckson himself in an interview he granted from the Source Magazine of Tuesday, September 21, 2015. The governor spoke of the importance of Jonathan in his quest to return to Yenagoa. He said:
“Former President Jonathan and his wife are supportive of me. They are not only supporting me, they will also campaign hard for my re-election.
“Because they realise and believe I have done well. They know and believe that the state is on track. I have a wonderful, cordial relationship with former President Jonathan and remains my supporter and eleder brother anyday. And we have been close politically for almost 13 years now. He as my leader and I, dependable, supportive ally, and it’sgoing to be that way till the end.”
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