By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Ahead of the November 11, this year’s governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has screened and cleared the State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri to contest for the party’s primary, which is a prelude to the poll.
This was done by the party through the Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Screening Committee constituted by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.
The committee, headed by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr Philip Shuaibu, which sat at the headquarters of PDP in Abuja, yesterday, cleared the Governor after meeting all the stipulated requirements.
Mr Shuaibu told journalists that the screening committee thoroughly checked all the documents tendered by the Governor and that there was no encumbrance.
According to him, “In line with the guidelines, the next process is screening candidates for governorship in Bayelsa, and we have started.
“We have checked Diri’s documents and we have interviewed him. And he is worthy to contest the election.
“Ordinarily as the incumbent and having been senator, there shouldn’t be any issues with his documents, but we didn’t rely on that.
“In line with the electoral law, we still did our job. And we are glad to inform you that he is qualified to contest.
“He has done well in Bayelsa state. And we are sure you will do well and consolidate the good work you have started”, he said.
While presenting the certificate of clearance to Governor Diri, the screening committee chairman said, “You (Diri) have been cleared for the election. We wish you well”.
Senator Diri is the only aspirant cleared by the committee, which started and completed its assignment yesterday, to contest the party’s primary coming up later this year.
While answering questions from journalists after receiving his certificate, the Bayelsa State Governor said that his record of achievement in office will guarantee him reelection in November 11 this year.
Governor Diri said, “Hitherto, Bayelsa State was known as one of the flashpoints, particularly during elections.
“And for the first time in our states, we had presidential elections. We had National Assembly elections and the just concluded House of Assembly elections. There was no single death recorded in Bayelsa state.
“And in terms of development, both infrastructure and human, the records are also there that will speak for our government. And because we want to continue with the peace and security of our state, we want to continue with the already recorded human and infrastructural development of our state. “We believe that the only way for us to stabilize our state is to continue and go for a second term.
“So that we will also hand over to others who will continue with the current peace and security that we enjoy in that state or the current level of human and infrastructural development.
“Bayelsa, as you rightly said, is a PDP state, the previous government has done a lot and we are also completing many projects they started.
“As a matter of fact, they call me the completion Governor. We are completing most of the projects that were embarked upon by the previous administration and adding new projects to them.
“And I’m very sure that if you interact with those who live in Bayelsa, you will have every acknowledgment as to why this government has shared prosperity as to come on for re-elections”, he declared.
Stating that PDP is firmly on ground in Bayelsa State, the Governor said, “In the National Assembly elections, Bayelsa is the only state that recorded 3 over 3 in the Senatorial elections. We also won 4 House of Representatives out of 5 for PDP. So we are talking about 100 over 100 for PDP.”
He stressed further that during the last Saturday’s State Houses of Assembly elections, PDP won 20 out of the 24 seats available, while others won 4.
His words, “The PDP is a formidable party in Bayelsa State. A lot of people who left us leading to the 2019 general elections are back to the party.
“So, what we did has brought members of the party back not only them, but so many APC members have decamped to PDP, so many over the period and so the other party is almost getting empty.
“It wasn’t an issue of anybody getting scared. I think people just feel that the government is doing well. And you know, you don’t change a winning team in football.
“Yeah. So everybody in the party feels we should continue with the winning team that we are and to put it succinctly that has led to our victory in this immediate past elections”, he said.
