LG poll: Dickson warns against rancorous primaries

Governor Seriake Dickson has warned aspirants in the forthcoming local council elections in Bayelsa state against undemocratic acts and violence, saying he would ensure fair, free and credible primaries.

To avoid unnecessary acrimony during the contest, he charged the aspirants to consult widely amongst themselves and ensure they agree on consensus candidates to make the exercise pleasant to behold.

The governor also warned aspirants to avoid unnecessary expenditure during the forthcoming primaries and elections, adding any undemocratic act would be frowned at.

Also, the governor has directed the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to deepen consultations to enable emergence of consensus candidates in the forthcoming local government elections.

“That there will be no rancorous contest and primaries. To build on the well-known capacity for managing the politics of the state which has brought stability to the state and the party?

“All those who want to aspire for various positions should consult with their leaders. The leaders should meet, ascertain their record to loyalty, hard work and contributions to the party and then shortlist them for the final ratification by the party leadership.

“So there will be no rowdy contest and those who want to contest should go and make their case to their leaders”, he said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr Fidelis Soriwei.

He therefore urged the would-be aspirants to return to their councils to consult their leaders in the various local government areas.

Dickson equally directed the leaders of the party to identify two persons, a male and female in each of the wards and seven other names comprising four men and three females for the Rural Development Areas, the supervisory councilors and councilors.

He advised party members and aspirants to refrain from acts inimical to the interest of the party and to hold consultations with their leaders.

Meanwhile, the state PDP chairman, Chief Moses Cleopas, had said that candidates for the election would emerge through a transparent process of consultations.

The chairman, who was speaking in Yenogoa, said such candidates would be selected by their party leaders based on their loyalty, sacrifice, dedication and contributions to the party with special interest in the principle of rotation especially for the positions of chairmen and councilors.

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