APC hoping to use federal might, INEC, security agencies in Bayelsa – Gov Dickson

Governor Seriake Dickson
of Bayelsa State

Bayelsa state governor, Henry Seriake Dickson has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is hoping to use federal might, security agencies and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to win the governorship election in the state.

Dickson who lambasted the recent defection of Timi Alaibe, Col. Sam Inokoba (retd), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and others from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC said they are “greedy and selfish politicians”.

Dickson, who spoke in Abuja on the sideline of the National Security Summit 2015 organized by the Nigeria Police Force, in conjunction with The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of The Sun title, said the defectors did so only for greed and selfish reasons.

He pointed out that, while it was their right to decamp, it was important for the public to know why they decamped to the APC, stressing that, they decamped because each one of them wants to be the governor and the PDP platform is not available for them to pursue such ambitions.

“So, they are going to the next alternative, and which in the case of the APC, is the party that has control of the center and by so doing, positioning themselves for federal appointments, which the PDP and I are not in a position to give to them.

“And they are hoping somehow that federal might, by way of security and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) manipulation, will see their eventual flagbearer into the government house, which is not going to be the case,” Dickson remarked.

He noted that, he is firmly on the ground in the state, adding that, Bayelsans are of the view that his administration has done well and on the election day, they will turn out en masse and vote for him and the PDP.

Dickson added: “We know the antecedents of each and every one of them and we are confident that the people are not with them.”

In answer to a question, Governor Dickson expressed confidence over his chances of being re-elected, stating that, having done well in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people, he was sure of getting re-elected for a second term in office.

According to Dickson, “I am sure. That is a PDP state and I have done well. It is not me saying it, it is the people of Bayelsa that are saying it. And they know them. So, let’s wait to see who their flagbearer would be against me,” Dickson concluded.

It will be recalled that, the former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Alaibe, the embattled chairman of the party in the state, Col. Sam Inokoba, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and others, defected to the APC at the weekend.

The defectors, were received by the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.