Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson on Tuesday alleged that the role played by former President Goodluck Jonathan in pitching his tent with the All Progressives Congress (APC) contributed to the shambolic performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Dickson, who addressed a world press conference in Yenagoa, also claimed that the ruling APC “use Jonathan to legitimise the illegitimacy” that marred the election.
Jonathan who is a leading figure in the PDP was said not to have done enough to rally support for his party’s candidate Douye Diri, following disagreement between him and Dickson over the candidate’s emergence at the PDP primary.
In his address, Dickson said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would challenge the result of Nov. 16 Bayelsa governorship election in court.
He maintained that the PDP did not lose the election as it was characterised by violence and widespread malpractices, which were carefully documented.
Dickson, however, said he would set up a transition committee to work out modalities for smooth handover on Feb. 14, 2020.
“Our candidate, Sen. Douye Diri and the party chairman have been speaking about the charade called election that took place in Bayelsa on Saturday, and the invasion of our state by security forces.
“The dehumanisation of our people and how the majority of the areas and in places, where our people were denied the right to vote for the candidate of their choice.
“The story is all out there that what took place in the state on Nov. 16 was not a democratic election.
today, I’m here to add my voice to all that has been said already, and it was so brazen, it has never been like this in this state before,” he said.
Dickson added: “I know that in 2015, we went through a very though time, there was displayed of federal might, but at least, it was not as bad as this.”
He said the endorsement of Mr David Lyon by the governor-elect by ex-president Good luck Jonathan was regrettable and a ploy by the APC to strategically take over the state, NAN reports.
He said that the perception that he alienated PDP stakeholders including the former president was unfounded adding that the primary election that produced the PDP candidate was credible.
“Jonathan remains my oga and I respect him, but there are lots of efforts by certain interest to create a rift between us, there is no politician that has been there for the former president than me.
“He has also helped me but it is unfortunate that I am being misconstrued in this matter of the election, I tried to meet Jonathan for 16 times and he opted to support a candidate that does not wish me well.
“I will soon write my memoirs and people will have a fair view of what happened, the visit of some APC governors to Jonathan who congratulated the APC candidate without congratulating the candidate of his party.
“It is strategic for APC leaders to use Jonathan to legitimise the illegitimacy that happened on Saturday,” Dickson said.
