According to unconfirmed reports, there are plans by the Bayelsa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party to pick Governor Henry Seriake-Dickson as the party’s sole candidate for the forthcoming governorship elections in the state.
It was gathered that the candidacy of the governor has the support of several interest groups in the state.
According to a source, various issues were considered before arriving at the position which was all about the chances of the PDP to win the state in the next governorship election.
“Despite opposition to the governor, the party’s leadership thought it wise to give automatic ticket to Dickson because members were convinced that he was actually on the ground in Bayelsa State. Being an incumbent, it would be more reasonable because going into primary will likely divide the party more than allowing the governor to re-contest as a sole candidate with high possibility to win the election”, the source stated.
According to him, the issue of performance was considered with majority giving Dickson a pass mark adding that consequently, the suggestion by a member of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the party to also consider him on the right of first refusal not only as incumbent but a strategic state.
He said, “The honour has been unanimously accepted and adopted. It is true Governor Seriake Dickson will likely emerge as our candidate for the governorship election in Bayelsa State in due course. You know a lot of issues were considered before the national leadership gave the nod.
“First we are interested in winning the state. You can see the situation in our party now since the last election, so winning Bayelsa is a must for us. Then if you look at all the current dynamics shaping politics in that state, it is clear that we have to apply tact and come up with a winning strategy in Bayelsa State. “So, being a performing governor who also has the support of members and the state executive, he has been adopted as our sole candidate.
“How many states are paying salaries? Dickson was recently eulogized through a vote of confidence by the State House of Assembly for his regular payment of salaries and settlement of about N242 billion out of the N332 billion debts said to have been incurred by his predecessor, Timipre Sylva.”
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