LG Congress: PDP Will Reclaim Mandate In Bayelsa, Says Turnah

The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its determination to reclaim political power in the state, expressing confidence that the party will regain its mandate through the support of the people.

The chairman of the party’s caretaker committee in the state, Barr. George Turnah, stated this shortly after the PDP local government congress held in Ogbia Town, where delegates from different wards gathered to elect new party executives at the local government level.

The congress, which attracted delegates from wards across the local government area, forms part of the PDP’s nationwide internal process aimed at strengthening its structures ahead of future elections.

Speaking after the exercise, Turnah said the PDP remained strong at the grassroots in Bayelsa and called on party members to remain united and hopeful.

He said the turnout of party members at the congress demonstrated that the PDP still enjoyed wide support among the people of the state.

He said, “I will speak to members of the PDP in Bayelsa State. As a family, we should keep faith in God and keep hope alive for joy is coming. PDP, of course, is Bayelsa and Bayelsa is PDP. The support base for PDP in Bayelsa State is organic.

“The people you have seen here, they are those who matter. They are the people of Bayelsa and the grassroots. And when the time comes, it will be very clear that the people of Bayelsa State are with this party.”

Turnah also commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise across the state, noting that reports from all the eight local government areas showed that the congress was orderly.

He praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for monitoring the exercise in line with electoral laws and also appreciated security agencies for maintaining peace during the process.

Highlighting the long political relationship between Ogbia and the PDP, Turnah noted that the party had produced several political leaders from the area over the years.

He said, “This party gave to Ogbia everything that we would have ever asked for in politics. Give us a deputy governor, an acting governor, give us a governor, give us a vice president, an acting president, and eventually we had a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We will continue to stand by the PDP.”

He also commended the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for what he described as his role in keeping the party strong at the national level.

Turnah further praised the peaceful political atmosphere in the state and thanked security agencies for their support during the congress.

On the party’s future plans, he insisted that the PDP was determined to regain control of the state.

“We can only take over Bayelsa when we produce a governor. And of course we’ll produce a governor. And when the time comes, it will be very clear that we’ll mobilise our people and we’ll retain this state,” he said.

During the congress, Ofoni Godknows Morgan emerged as the new PDP chairman for Ogbia local government area.

In his acceptance speech, Morgan thanked party leaders and members for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work towards strengthening the party.

He also called on members to remain united and work collectively for the success of the party.

“I want to say that PDP, Bayelsa State, has remained a PDP state. And with that mindset, with all of us together, we will take back this state’s come 2027.

“Let us work collectively because one tree alone cannot make a forest.”
Morgan later expressed confidence that the party would regain its political dominance in the state.

“I believe that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, is a party that has given us everything we need. As such, we will put in our best, the People’s Democratic Party will retrieve our mandate that has been taken elsewhere.”