Ahead of the September 24 delegates primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP) in Bayelsa state, the party’s ‘super delegates’ have endorsed Governor Seriake Dickson as the party’s sole candidate for the Dec. 5 gubernatorial elections.
DAILY POST reliably gathered that the endorsement followed a unanimous decision reached by the delegates at a meeting held at the residence of the Chairman of the Restoration Campaign Advisory Council, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
The super delegates numbering over 250, included past and present leaders of the party, political office holders, (elected and appointed) and some members of the State Executive Council.
Others include members of the State House of Assembly, PDP State working committee, and the leadership of the local government councils, who all predicated their support of the Governor on his impressive performance in office.
It was further learnt that the super delegates, each has 20 delegates under them going into the party’s governorship primaries, which underscored their overwhelming support for the Governor.
Consequently, a formal motion for endorsement was moved by a one-time State Secretary of the PDP, Captain Mark Opubiri (rtd.) and was seconded by the Vice Chairman of the Southern Ijaw Local Government, Hon. Mrs Lovina Gboluseri.
In his welcome addresses, Chief Alamieyeseigha noted that the successful emergence of the Governor as the sole candidate of the PDP would enable the party the opportunity to carry out effective campaigns in all conner of the state without distraction.
He reiterated his call to see the forthcoming governorship election as a battle to protect the integrity of the Ijaw nation and therefore urged PDP faithfuls not to leave any stone unturned as they embark on the issue-based campaign activities.
In his response, Governor Dickson expressed appreciation to the leadership and delegates of the party for the honour done him and pledged loyalty to the interest and ideals of the PDP at all times.
He acknowledged that all the achievements of the restoration government would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of the party and well meaning people of the state.
Dickson, however, called on all members of the PDP to remain steadfast in their support and work to achieve a landslide victory in the December 5 election to further demonstrate the dominant position of the party in the state.
He also used the opportunity to call on all those “who were deceived to defect to the APC, to return to the PDP family”.
“The other side (APC) has nothing for any of you. So, don’t allow yourselves to be deceived again. Look at how they have finished the political careers of some of our friends, who were members of this great party.
“They played them 419 to collect their money, which they got from the PDP. They went to their houses, deceived them by promising to give them the Governorship ticket.
“The same people have turned around to collect the Governorship ticket they promised our friends, but our leaders are saying that our umbrella is big enough to cover them again.
“The party is ready to receive them back as prodigal sons especially those of them that will realize themselves and return early,” the governor said.
Dickson enjoined members of the PDP who have remained faithful and loyal to the party to remain steadfast in their support and don’t be carried away by unnecessary blackmail.
He said elections are won and lost in units and wards and not by security forces that would be deployed by the federal government, saying that “as Ijaw people, we will not be intimidated by anybody.”
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