Dickson wins Bayelsa PDP primaries

Seriake Dickson

Dickson wins Bayelsa PDP primaries

A member of the Nigerian House of Representative representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Seriake Dickson, has won the Bayelsa State's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries.

Dickson polled 365 votes to defeat six other aspirants to pick the party’s ticket at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.

Two of the aspirants, Mr Fred Ekiyegha and Austin Febo came distant second with two votes each, while Chief Francis Doukpola and Youpele Kalango polled one vote each.

Alleged irregularities

Reports say Mr Boloubo Orufa and Mr Christopher Enai, worked out of the venue of the primaries in protest against alleged irregularities.

Declaring the results, the Chairman of the five-member election panel, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (Rtd), said: “by the powers conferred on me I hereby declared Seriake Dickson as returned after polling 365 votes’’.

NAN reports that 52 out of the expected 463 delegates boycotted the primaries.

They include all the members of the State House of Assembly, the incumbent Governor of the state. Timipre Sylva, three senators and four members of the House of Representatives.

Dickson expressed his gratitude to all the PDP stalwarts and delegates for their solidarity and support, saying that the victory was for the party and all the people.

Court injunction

Governor Sylva had earlier obtained a court injunction restraining the PDP from conducting the Primaries.
 
Mr Sylva also asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving a new list of nominees since his name had been submitted on January 12, 2011 and he is “not dead” as stipulated in section 33 of the Electoral Act.

Silva alongside four other aspirants was disqualified by the PDP from contesting on the party’s platform for the Bayelsa state governorship ticket

Two former governors of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Navy Capt.
Walter Feghabo; four former state chairmen of the PDP, Messr Charles Dorgu, Claudius Enegesi, Fred Abgedi and Chief Rufus Abadi, were among those who witnessed the primaries.

The governorship election in the state is expected to hold in February 2012.  

NAN/Williams