Bayelsa PDP primaries credible, Group tells aggrieved aspirants

A group known as The Patriots, in the  Bayelsa State chapter of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defended the National and States Assembly primaries held in October this year, where candidates of the party were elected ahead of the 2019 General elections .

The group  maintained that the primaries were free, fair and credible, and said it wonders, why some persons are hellbent on discrediting the process, and most worrisome, the attempt to drag Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, into a process that was wholly supervised by the National Secretariat of the PDP.

The group,  while reacting to a purported litigation against the primaries and a statement credited to one of the senatorial aspirants, Albertin Daukoru Doibo, who accused Governor Dickson of manipulating the primaries in favor of his “anointed” candidates,  said the intention of the petitioners were false, as the group also absolved the party’s  Electoral Committee,  of any misdeed, during the elections.

ALSO READ: Dickson takes investment drive to Africa CEO Forum in Cote d’Ivoire

Recall that some aggrieved aspirants alleged that no elections were held during the Bayelsa PDP primaries, and that figures were only concocted in favour of the winners.

But a statement signed on behalf of ‘THE PATRIOTS’ by Chief Atani Mike said the allegations that the primaries were rigged only existed in the imagination of the losers especially Ms Albertin Daukoru Doibo  and their supporters.

The statement stressed that those making the allegations initially had plans to manipulate the process and induce voters with cash, as the also allegedly deployed thugs to disrupt the polls but were repelled by members of the party.

The group further said the statesman role and support given to the party, by Governor Dickson during the primaries,  made it impossible for the anyone to concoct figures, as alleged, adding that the election was conducted and all eligible party member participated, as ordered by the  National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP.

It said: “We disagreed that there were no elections during the Bayelsa PDP primaries. The elections did not only hold but were credible and devoid of rigging, manipulations, violence and intimidations. We hereby urge the National leadership of our party, to disregard the ranting of these insignificant few, as we also urge Bayelsans, not to be deceived by the antics of these bad losers. Bayelsa PDP remains intact and we are determined to ensure total victory for the party, come 2019.” the statement concluded