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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, former Minister of State for Agriculture on Tuesday congratulated Chief Timipre Sylva on his ministerial nomination to represent Bayelsa State in the Federal Execution Council.
The development is sequel to the transmission of the ministerial nomination list by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly for confirmation.
The nomination of ex-Gov Sylva for ministerial appointment is believed to pave way for Lokpobiri to clinch the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket ahead of November gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa.
Lokpobiri, in a message to Sylva immediately after the announcement, said “Congratulations Your Excellency on your appointment and I wish you the best of luck in your new position as minister of the Federal Republic.”
Lokpobiri described Sylva’s appointment as “very well deserved,” adding that with this development, Bayelsa APC is further positioned to wrestle power from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Lokpobiri who is the only APC gubernatorial aspirant that has collected form so far from Bayelsa said he remains optimistic that the November 16, 2019 gubernatorial election in the state will go the way of APC.
He noted that Sylva’s appointment is a clear indication that, “APC is growing and making great progress in leaps and bounds, especially in Bayelsa ahead the Nov 16 guber polls.”
Lokpobiri was a senator representing Bayelsa West for two terms and a former speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
No fewer than 15 aspirants have so far picked the expression of interest form on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Aspirants who also collected the PDP nomination form include former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) managing director, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, former cabinet member in the state, Mr Reuben Okoya, and an ex-militant leader, Great MacIver.
Others are the incumbent deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd.), businessman Kenebi Okoko, former commissioner for Works and Transportation, Mr Franklin Osaisai and Chief Benson Agadaga.
Rep. Fred Agbedi, Sen. Douye Diri (Bayelsa Central), chief of staff, Government House, Mr Talford Ongolo, and secretary to the state government, Mr Kemela Okara, have also collected nomination forms.