• Lokpobri sole aspirant in APC
Barely a month to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries
scheduled to hold on September 3, 23 aspirants have so far
indicated their ambition to contest the governorship under the
party in Bayelsa State.
Under the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, only the
former Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobri
has indicated his interest to contest the election.
This followed the nomination of the state leader of the party,
Chief Timipre Sylva as a minister by President Muhammadu
Buhari.
Although the news was rife that Sylva may again contest for the
seat he once occupied from 2007 to 2011, the former governor was
yet to pick the form to contest.
In the PDP, the three leading aspirants are said to be Chief
Timi Alaibe who is believed to be the candidate of choice of former
president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his political group, Green
Movement.
There is also Chief Frederick Agbedi, a member of the House of
Representatives who is believed to be the choice of Governor
Seriake Dickson’s Restoration Family; and a former chief executive
officer of the National Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Franklyn
Osaisai.
As at the time of writing this report, the PDP has raked over
N520 million in nomination and expression of interest forms. The
state chapter of the party also collected N3 million from each of
the aspirants raking in over N70 million.
Among the aspirants who have collected and submitted their forms
are Keniebi Okoko, the son of Prof. Kimse Okoko, a former president
of the Ijaw National Congress; Joshua Maciver, the first
ex-militant to accept presidential amnesty pardon; Benson Agadaga,
a childhood friend of President Jonathan; Reuben Okoya; Senator
Douye Diri; Talford Ongolo, chief staff to Governor Dickson; Kemela
Okara, the secretary to the state government; Gboribogha
John-Jonah, a retired naval Rear Admiral and incumbent deputy
governor of the state; Konbowei Benson, former Speaker of the state
House of Assembly; Dr. Godknows Igali, former Nigeria’s Ambassador
to the Netherlands; Johnson kiyaramo; Senator Emmanuel Paulker and
Tariela Oliver.
Others are George Ikoli Anthony, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria;
David Alalor; Roberson Etolor, a former local government chairman;
Tari Oliver; Igiri Ziperedein, Dr. Nimibofa Ayawei; Prof. Steve
Azaiki, a member of the House of Representatives; Udengz Eradiri, a
former president of the Ijaw Youth Council and Doodei Week.
On the side of the APC, only Lokpobiri has signified
interest.
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