Bayelsa: Angry PDP members rain knocks on Dickson, party chairman over alleged endorsement of aspirant for 2020 guber race

There is rising anger amongst governorship aspirants in Bayelsa state on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the alleged decision by the state chairman, Cleopas Moses, to openly endorse the candidature of aspirants preferred by the state governor, Seriake Dickson.

The aggrieved governorship aspirants claimed that Moses, in a speech allegedly delivered at a meeting between the state party executives, the newly elected local government chairmen and the state governor, Seriake Dickson, had declared that his vote and that of the elected chairmen are for any candidate endorsed by the state governor.

While some of the angry governorship aspirants claimed that though the party chairman, could have a preferred candidate, he should not be seen openly committing his ‘body and soul’ to a particular candidate within the party ahead of the primaries.

Others insisted that they have a recorded tape of the PDP chairman when he was allegedly committing his soul and vote to Dickson’s candidate.

A group within the state PDP, known as the Integrity Group, and led by Hon. Tony Nathan Ile, alleged that Intelligence report through a recorded tape received by concerned party members showed that state party chairman was heard in a speech endorsing the governor’s choice of aspirant instead of being neutral in a primary election were candidate is yet to emerge

‘This is against the rules of the party where a state chairman is expected to be neutral and not to have been seen to take side with a particular aspirant as against the over 20 of them who have purchased the PDP gubernatorial forms of the party.’

‘Their actions are an aberration and should be condemned by all well meaning members of the party who have the interest of the party at heart. It is interesting to note that a one time state chairman of the party was suspended for endorsing an aspirant whom the national leadership of the party investigated and the said party chairman was suspended as a result of such an inglorious action.’

‘But in this case, the state chairman has already taking side with the governor’s anointed aspirant whom he has fully thrown his weight behind openly’

another disturbing factor is the issue of threats to ward and local government delegates by the governor. It is barbaric and satanic for anyone to issue threats to delegates in an election he is not even an aspirant.

Also noted by the group, was alleged voice of the state governor, reportedly issuing out threat to wards and local government executive members of the party, to not only vote for his preferred aspirant but should also submit their INEC voters and party membership cards to the state leadership of the party.’

‘Another disturbing factor is the issue of threats to ward and local government delegates by the Governor. It is barbaric and satanic for anyone to issue threats to delegates in an election he is not even an aspirant.

“It is an indecorous act for a chief executive of a state, and by the rules of the party, the leader of the party at the state level to be issuing such threats to party men and women whom he leads simply because they have been perceived not to be in accordance with his unpopular choice of aspirant.’

‘The members of the PDP Integrity Group is once again calling on the national leadership of the party to quickly investigate this nefarious act of the governor and possibly call him to order in the interest of the generality of our members as it is capable of affecting the chances of the party at the November 16th polls.’

‘We are also urging the national leadership of the party to also investigate the said statement credited to the state party chairman Hon. Cleopas Moses for his open support for the governor’s choice of a given aspirant, even when the primaries are yet to be conducted and possibly suspend him from office.’

If the national leadership fails to nip this ugly trend in the bud, we will be left with no option than to lead a heavy protest both in the state and at the national headquarters of our great party.

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