Chances that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will come out tops in this weekend’s gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state has been dealt a massive blow.
This, The Nation reports, is partly because some loyal and serving members of the ruling party in the state were seen showing solidarity for the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) during its final campaign at the Samson Siasia stadium in Yenagoa, the state capital on Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
Some supporters loyal to the PDP dumped their man for the APC during the final campaign rally in Bayelsa
It was gathered that there was a mammoth crowd in the state capital as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC moved its headquarters to Bayelsa ahead of this weekend’s election, to show their support for the party’s flagbearer in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva as he battles Governor Seriake Dickson.
Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, representing President Muhammadu Buhari; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC’s national chairman, and a host of others were at the campaign ground to drum support for their man who they believe will emerge victorious on Saturday.
APC governors such as Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Aminu Tambuwa (Sokoto) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) represented by his deputy, Eze Madumere, were also at the campaign venue as well as governorship candidates of the party in the southsouth states, who are seeking justice in courts; the likes of Dakuku Peterside (Rivers), Otega Emerhor (Delta) and Umana Umana (Rivers) including Senator Magnus Abe.
Vice President Osibanjo, who spoke on behalf of the president, said: “The time for change has come. The time of prosperity, the time of good governance has come. Don’t miss the train. What the President wants is that you will join what we are doing in the federal level. Bayelsa deserves its pride of place among the states of Nigeria.
“This state and its people are great. But you must do the right thing. The right thing is to leave from the PDP to the APC. It is time to move. On Saturday, you deserve the right to go to the polling booth with your PVC and you will make that change on Saturday.
“After that you will have the right to demand. You will have the right to ask our candidate who will be the next governor what he promised you. I promise you that you will see a real difference.
“There will be job, progress in this state. Everyone one of us looking for promotion will have it by the grace of God. You will achieve great things.”
Speaking also was the Jagaban of Borgu, Asiwaju Tinubu, who asked the people of the state to send PDP with its 16 years of ineptitude out of power, while adding that the APC is the cure for headache, unemployment and other societal ills brought about by the ruling party.
“For 16 years you have been led in the wilderness by poverty development party. Send PDP away with its poverty, no water, unemployment, darkness.
“Vote and defend your votes. They are already afraid. You are already the master. Sylva is back. He has bounced back. Only you can make him win,” Tinubu said.
Meanwhile, the suit challenging the eligibility of Sylva to contest the forthcoming election has been adjourned till January 2016 for further hearing, a move which all but allows him contest the gubernatorial election in the state.
This, The Nation reports, is partly because some loyal and serving members of the ruling party in the state were seen showing solidarity for the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) during its final campaign at the Samson Siasia stadium in Yenagoa, the state capital on Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
Some supporters loyal to the PDP dumped their man for the APC during the final campaign rally in Bayelsa
It was gathered that there was a mammoth crowd in the state capital as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC moved its headquarters to Bayelsa ahead of this weekend’s election, to show their support for the party’s flagbearer in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva as he battles Governor Seriake Dickson.
Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, representing President Muhammadu Buhari; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC’s national chairman, and a host of others were at the campaign ground to drum support for their man who they believe will emerge victorious on Saturday.
APC governors such as Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Aminu Tambuwa (Sokoto) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) represented by his deputy, Eze Madumere, were also at the campaign venue as well as governorship candidates of the party in the southsouth states, who are seeking justice in courts; the likes of Dakuku Peterside (Rivers), Otega Emerhor (Delta) and Umana Umana (Rivers) including Senator Magnus Abe.
Vice President Osibanjo, who spoke on behalf of the president, said: “The time for change has come. The time of prosperity, the time of good governance has come. Don’t miss the train. What the President wants is that you will join what we are doing in the federal level. Bayelsa deserves its pride of place among the states of Nigeria.
“This state and its people are great. But you must do the right thing. The right thing is to leave from the PDP to the APC. It is time to move. On Saturday, you deserve the right to go to the polling booth with your PVC and you will make that change on Saturday.
“After that you will have the right to demand. You will have the right to ask our candidate who will be the next governor what he promised you. I promise you that you will see a real difference.
“There will be job, progress in this state. Everyone one of us looking for promotion will have it by the grace of God. You will achieve great things.”
Speaking also was the Jagaban of Borgu, Asiwaju Tinubu, who asked the people of the state to send PDP with its 16 years of ineptitude out of power, while adding that the APC is the cure for headache, unemployment and other societal ills brought about by the ruling party.
“For 16 years you have been led in the wilderness by poverty development party. Send PDP away with its poverty, no water, unemployment, darkness.
“Vote and defend your votes. They are already afraid. You are already the master. Sylva is back. He has bounced back. Only you can make him win,” Tinubu said.
Meanwhile, the suit challenging the eligibility of Sylva to contest the forthcoming election has been adjourned till January 2016 for further hearing, a move which all but allows him contest the gubernatorial election in the state.
