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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the suspended Bayelsa Central and West senatorial bye-elections whenever they are conducted.
Governor Diri stated this on Monday night while addressing PDP faithful shortly after the conduct of the party’s state congress at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa.
His acting chief press secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that the peaceful conduct of the PDP ward, local government and state congresses demonstrated the party’s maturity and dominance in the state.
He said the successful congresses have repositioned the party to continually enjoy the support of the people and win elections in the state.
He expressed gratitude to former President Goodluck Jonathan and his predecessor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, for their contribution towards the success of the elective congresses.
The governor also commended the elders, delegates and members of the party and paid special tributes to the outgoing chairman, Mr Moses Cleopas, and his team for their commitment to the overriding interest of the party.
While congratulating the newly elected executive, Diri charged them to emulate the worthy examples set by the Cleopas-led exco and improve on the fortunes of the party in the next four years.
He also called on stakeholders to support the new executive to enable them serve the party effectively.
His words: “We can only make them to succeed when we gave them our full support like we did to the outgoing chairman and other members of that executive.
“They were committed, united and faithful to our party. So, I believe you will follow the example and footsteps that they have laid for you.
“Let me also seize this opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation to the former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, and my boss and leader, former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, for their support for this congress.
“Let me assure us that with these two leaders by my side, the PDP will continue to win elections in our state. With what we have achieved today, even though the Bayelsa Central and West Senatorial bye-elections have been postponed, our party will win those seats squarely whenever INEC conducts the bye-elections.”
In his acceptance speech, the new state PDP chairman, Mr Solomon Agwanana, expressed appreciation to the delegates, Governor Diri and other leaders for giving him and his team the opportunity to serve the party.
Mr Agwanana, who hails from Ekeremor Local Government Area, pledged that the new executive would consolidate and improve on the gains already achieved by the party.
He solicited the support of all stakeholders, and stressed the need for deliberate efforts to reconcile and re-integrate aggrieved members within and outside the party.
Declaring the results of the elective congress, which was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the leader of PDP National Delegation, Senator James Manager, also commended the peaceful conduct of the delegates.
According to Senator Manager, out of a total of 1,237 accredited delegates, Mr Agwanana polled 1,231.
Other officers of the 39-member executive committee include the immediate past commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Nengi Talbot Tubonah as deputy chairman, Hon. Gesiye Isowo (secretary) and Dame Christie Ebbeli as state PDP women leader.