Bayelsa LG poll: Gov. Dickson bow to pressure over appointment of BSIEC Chairmanship …..as PDP members protest choice of party flag bearers

The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson yesterday bowed to pressure from the opposition political parties in the State over the appointment of a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ball Oyarede as the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC) with the announcement of Hon. Remember Ogbe as a replacement.

Gov. Dickson’s action at replacing Oyarede with Hon. Remember Ogbe was however received with mixed feeling among the fold of over seventy-six opposition political parties in the State. Both Oyarede and Ogbe are believed to be card carrying members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

While Oyarede served at the State House of Assembly as a member, Hon. Ogbe was the Chairman of the Southern Ijaw Local Government on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.

Governor Seriake Dickson in his announcement and swearing in ceremony of Hon. Remember Ogbe as the Acting Chairman, urged the Acting Chairman and members of the Commission to conduct a free, fair and peaceful local government poll.

Meanwhile, some members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Yenagoa, Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government councils of the State have kicked against the parameters adopted by the Party to nominate the flag bearers of the Party for the August 10 Local Government election in the state.

In Yenagoa Local Government Council, groups known as the Gbarain Restoration group,  Gbarain Youth Federation Citizen Forum and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) led by Dr.. Suowari Godstime, ​​Comr. Ebiye Martins​ and Comr. Perepuayagha Ebikuro respectively ,said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains a strong hold in the state and since inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999 with the Gbarain people of Yenagoa are loyal to the PDP.

According to groups, in a protest letter addressed to the State Governor,Hon. Seriake Dickson and the State Party Chairman, Hon. Cleopas Moses, ”We write to express our concern as stakeholders and grassroot leaders in the restoration project in Gbarain Kingdom. It is factual that the people of Gbarain since the inception of the Restoration Government led by His Excellency, Governor Seriake Dickson in 2011 has played their role and contribute both economically and politically to the growth of the state hence we have been a force to reckon with as key players”.

“We are shocked to receive the news of the purported nomination of one Mr. Uroupaye  Nimizuo by the Bayelsa Sate Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barr. Kemela Okara unbehalf of Yenagoa Local Government Area Stakeholders.We write to clarify and put on notice that the recent nomination was done single handedly by the SSG without due consultation with party leaders and stakeholders across the Yenagoa Local Government Area. Let it be on record that the recent 2015/2019 election this said SSG almost lost his ward 11 but for the intervention of stakeholders from other wards in constituency II”.

 “Let it be on record that the said ward 11 which produces the SSG also has:The Hon. Commissioner for Youth Development Comr. Udengs Eradiri. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture Hon. Godspower Ake, Governor’s Representative for YELGA: Hon. Patterson Ikpe, The Director-General Bayelsa Micro-finance and Enterprise Development Agency: BYMEDIA) Engr. Ebiekure Eradiri and Many other countless political Appointees”.

 “In the electoral composition in the said constituency II, Gbarain has three wards (7,8,9) While Ekpetiama has Two (10,11) It is a slap on the people of Gbarain if this issue is swept under the carpet in this political dispensation. Your Excellency, at this point we will like to take your back memory lane on the history of the elected Yenagoa Yenagoa Local Government Area Chairmen since this democratic dispensation in 1999. Hon. Walter Okpoi (Ikibiri/Ekpetiama),Hon. Tony Samuel(Ovom/Epie/Atissa),Hon. Micheal Ogbolosingha (Kalaba/Okordia/Zarama-Biseni) and Hon. Chubby Ben-Watson(Agudama/Epie Atissa). In view of the above, now that the position is back to constituency two we feel it is just, fair Politically wise and rightly the turn of GBARAIN CANDIDATE to emerge as the Local Government Chairman in line with the present political reality”.

“Your Excellency, we passionately appeal as stakeholders that going by the BYSIEC electoral time-line made there is provision for substitution of candidate(s) after the primaries, therefore we appeal that the purported winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Yenagoa Local Government Primaries Mr. Uroupaye Nimizuo be substituted by any Gbarain Aspirant”.

“Your Excellency, we appeal that as the leader of the party in the State, we want you to graciously use your good office to intervene in the matter of Yenagoa Local Government Area Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairmanship Primaries as we restate our total support to the Restoration Agenda and policies to move the State forward”.

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