The Bayelsa State governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Douye Diri, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) Timipreye Sylva will not have the benefit of the “federal might” of the APC-led federal government in the forthcoming election because he has been rejected by the people, including his own party members.
Diri, who stated this yesterday in Abuja at the inauguration of the PDP campaign council, added that as much as he wouldn’t take the APC for granted, the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government will not be anti-democratic.
The PDP campaign council for the November 11 governorship election is chaired by the Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas.
Diri alleged that the APC candidate in the state has been rejected by his party, claiming that the many APC leaders have said they will support the PDP in the state.
He said, “In Bayelsa, I would like to let you know that this election is across party lines. So we are not going there to deride APC.
“There are so many APC members who have come out openly to say: yes in Abuja we are APC, but in Bayelsa we are PDP. So when we go for this campaign we should be seen to be accepting them. On ground like everyone has attested to, it is like 80-20 percent election, but we will not take it for granted because somebody is boasting that whether the people like it or not he is going to win, that means he is standing on a stone and we must remove that stone from under him, that is all that the PDP needs to do.
“I am not very sure that even the federal might that we used to know of, I am not sure, that there will be any federal might for a candidate that has been roundly rejected by the people. The federal government is also not a government that will be anti-democracy, the federal government will stand to defend democracy. We are in a democratic system and I believe that if we work well and we do not take it for granted, we have already won. It is not over until it is over,” he said.
On his part, the Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, said the party’s campaign is not only about the quest for power but a commitment to transformative leadership that fosters growth, equity and unity.
He said, “In this pivotal moment we recognize the weight of our responsibility to the people of Bayelsa State. As we set our sights to retain our governorship position in Bayelsa State, we embrace the task of a prosperous and great future for every citizen of Bayelsa State.
“Our Campaign is not merely a quest for power but a commitment to transformative leadership that fosters growth, equity and unity. Bayelsa’s potential is limitless and we stand at the crossroad of history waiting to shape a trajectory. Our Campaign will be driven by the voices of the people and our policies will reflect their aspiration.
“Our Governor (Douye) promises to prioritize education, health care, infrastructure, job creation, youth and women empowerment and also sustainable development as the cornerstone of his agenda. Our success will not be defined by Victory at the polls, but by the trust we have built over time and the positive impact we have made in the lives of Bayelsans.
“As we embark on this journey, let us remember that unity is our strength. Let us foster an environment of collaboration where innovative ideas flourish and define our strategies. Sooner or later in the month of November challenges will face our resolve, but together we shall overcome them. We shall do that with the support of our people in Bayelsa. As we move forward, let us lead with our hearts and minds united, guided by the belief that we shall win again as we have always won. We promise the people of Bayelsa a brighter future,” he said.
