Dickson: Jonathan, PDP Leaders 'll Decide Choice of Dep Gov …Gov's aide denies sponsoring dissident group

Bayelsa State Governor,  Seriake Dickson, on Tuesday moved to douse the rising tension over the choice of a running mate for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 governorship election in the state.

Some interest groups had recently rejected the alleged planned choice of Lawrence Ewhrujakpor, a Senator, who hails from Bayelsa West, same axis as the incumbent governor, to act as running mate to the party's candidate.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said Dickson had called a meeting of the top leadership and critical stakeholders of the state chapter of the PDP before the September 23 deadline for candidate substitution in the gubernatorial election.

The governor said the critical stakeholders of the state PDP, including him, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and other leaders, would take a final decision on the issue of the running mate for the party’s candidate, Senator. Douye Diri.

The governor, who advised PDP members and supporters to be calm and focused, said the final decision on the issue of running mate would be taken after exhaustive consultations and deliberations with the critical stakeholders.

Dickson, therefore, urged PDP members in state to avoid playing into the hands of the opposition-All Progressives Congress (APC)-which he said carries “the heavy burden of an unmarketable gubernatorial candidate.”

He alleged that the APC, which he argued is not on the ground in Bayelsa State, “was only banking on violence and the federal might to kill innocent voters during the elections.”

Dickson said the controversy over the running mate was simply normal in politics which is not peculiar to the PDP and its candidate in Bayelsa State.

The governor noted that the APC ticket clearly shows desperation to hijack the state government and have it run by proxies.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has refuted an allegation of sponsoring members of the Bayelsa East Forum for Justice, who are kicking against the choice of Ewhrujakpor as running mate to Diri.

The commissioner also threatened to take legal action against a radio state and a group,  the Bayelsa PDP Youth Frontiers, who he noted are alleging that he was behind the group.

"The Commissioner for Information and Orientation could not have sponsored a group he knows nothing about.

"As a loyal member of the PDP, Iworiso-Markson stands by any decision, and will not use underhand means to subvert the collective will of the party.

"Members of the so-called Bayelsa PDP Youth Frontiers are therefore advised to within 24 hours of this statement issue an apology or be ready to face legal actions.

" The radio station where the news item was used should also within 24 hours of this statement make a public apology to the honourable commissioner or also be ready to face legal actions.

"Let us make it clear that we will not sit down and watch anyone impugn on the integrity and reputation of Iworiso-Markson," a statement signed by Executive Assistant to the governor's aide, MAllen Ibiba-Harry, said.