1st November, 2011
Intrigue that has dogged the process of selection of candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2011 gubernatorial election continued in Abuja on Tuesday with the name of the incumbent governor, Timipre Slyva, missing in the first batch of candidates cleared to contest the State’s gubernatorial election scheduled for next year by the National Working Committee, NWC of of the party.
PDP NWC, in a press release signed by Professor Rufai Alkali, National Publicity Secretary, PDP however indicated that it may release the names of more candidates that will contest in the election later.
Four candidates already cleared as indicated in the press release are: Oruta Justine Boloubo Henry Seriake Dickson, Enai Christopher Fullpower and Kalango Michael Youppele.
President Goodluck Jonathan who is from Bayelsa State is said not to be favourably disposed to the return of the incumbent Governor for the second term.
Indeed, the news since last weekend is that Slyva has been screened out as candidate in the coming polls. The Governor has however continue to deny this. It is thus doubtful if PDP will indeed be releasing the list of another batch of candidates as promised in the press release.
The press release reads: The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held an emergency meeting on the 31st of October, 2011, and considered reports on the preparations for the forth coming Gubernatorial Primaries in Bayelsa State. It also received the report of the Screening Appeal Panel headed by Her Excellency Abiodun Olujimi, Former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State.
“ After a thorough review of the reports of the Screening Panel and the Screening Appeal Panel, the leadership of the Party has so far cleared the first batch of contestants for the Gubernatorial Primaries in Bayelsa State as follows:
i. Oruta Justine Boloubo;
ii. Henry Seriake Dickson;
iii. Enai Christopher Fullpower; and
iv. Kalango Michael Youppele
“The NWC session to conclude the review exercise continues in order to consider cases of other aspirants on their individual merits. All party members, particularly stakeholders in Bayelsa State are to please note that the NWC is handling this exercise painstakingly and shall communicate all its decisions in due course.
“Party members are therefore advised to await the decisions of the NWC on this issue and mobilize all our supporters for the success of the forthcoming primaries.