PDP will maintain dominance in Bayelsa—-Gov Diri

*Governor appeals to aggrieved members

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would continue to maintain its dominance in the state and that it would bounce back at the national level in 2023.

Governor Diri, who stated this at a PDP stakeholders meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is already shaky and has disappointed the country.

The governor in a statement by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, maintained that Nigerians had seen the difference in performance between the two main parties and would not make another mistake of entrusting leadership of the country to the APC again.

He restated his position that the supervision of electoral materials such as ballot papers as directed by the state elections tribunal clearly indicate that the PDP did not lose the November 16, 2019 governorship poll in Bayelsa.

Decrying what he called brazen display of federal might only for election purposes, Diri noted that the Federal Government had lost a lot of credibility and respect in the international community because of the undemocratic role it played in the Bayelsa and Kogi elections.

He thanked the PDP faithful for their hard work and unalloyed loyalty to the party and urged them to sustain it for greater success.

His words: “The God that has brought PDP back to Bayelsa will take PDP to 2023 and beyond it. Throughout the campaigns, it was only our posters and billboards that had the slogan “in God we trust.” They don’t know that everything is settled in the spiritual realm before it manifests here on earth.

“I appreciate those of you who worked tirelessly, who prayed, who sought the face of God rather than the face of man. You believed and were loyal to the party, and worked for its success. Without you, there would have been no PDP today. Our party will continue to lead in Bayelsa and move on to 2023 where we will capture the centre. That is why we must continue to contribute our quota.”

Governor Diri had earlier met with the chairman, members of the state executive as well as zonal and local government officials of the party during which he appealed to aggrieved members to close ranks and work as a united family.

He said any attempt to factionalise or destabilise the party would not be condoned.

He expressed support for the Moses Cleopas-led executive, pointing out that PDP members must adhere to the party’s constitution and shun anti-party tendencies and activities.

“For anybody planning to factionalise our party, this is the time to have a change of heart. Anybody who believes he will go to Abuja to pick forms for the state congresses, that is a huge joke.

“There is only one party and only one executive down to the local governments and every ward in our state. My brothers and sisters that intend to play some other funny roles, we will not condone any disloyalty and factionalisation of our party.

“God has brought us back to power. This is the right time for everybody to come back. That is why we are preaching reconciliation within and outside our party. So, our chairman, there is the need to put up a reconciliation committee for our great party.”

Governor Diri called for the observation of a one-minute silence in honour of party faithful and supporters that were killed during the election campaigns in Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

He therefore charged the party chairman to as a matter of urgency set up a reconciliation committee to reach out to all aggrieved members of the party.

The state PDP Chairman, Hon. Moses Cleopas, in his remarks, congratulated the governor and his deputy on their Supreme Court victory and subsequent swearing in on February 14, 2020.

He said the meeting was an opportunity to inform the governor of the status of the party as well as inform him of the ward congresses scheduled to hold across the state on March 7, 2020.

Cleopas said PDP remains the only party in the state with the potential and structure to win elections in a free and fair contest.

He prayed God to grant Senator Diri the wisdom, knowledge and ability to pilot the affairs of the state as well as ensure peace, stability and progress of the party.