Sylva Wins In Bayelsa PDP Primary; Congress Free And Fair – Jonathan

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 09, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Sunday in Yenagoa described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Bayelsa State as “free, fair, peaceful and conducted in the public glare.”

Speaking at the conclusion of the Special State Congress held at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa and attended by delegates from all the eight Local Governments in which the incumbent Governor Timipre Sylva, was overwhelmingly elected with 420 votes out of 471 accredited voters, the President thanked all the 13 aspirants for the peaceful process.

“We are preaching one-man one-vote and I sat down here to defend my own vote notwithstanding the sun,” he said while explaining why he insisted on voting and staying throughout the entire exercise.

President Jonathan who advised Nigerian voters not to allow ballot box snatching anymore, advised them to always stay and defend their votes.

While congratulating Governor Sylva on his “landslide victory,” he urged him to brace up for “more challenges ahead and carry everybody along” including the failed aspirants as the party prepares for the general elections.

“PDP is one and at the end we want everybody to come together,” he said.

Governor Sylva in his acceptance speech dedicated his victory to God, President Jonathan and the people of Bayelsa State even as he invited the other contestants to join him in preparing for the general election, which he described as the “fight ahead of us for the life of the PDP.”

Photo: President Goodluck Jonathan votes.

The governor, who promised to relocate to Abuja to campaign for President Jonathan’s victory during the PDP National Convention on January 13, assured the President of the votes of all delegates from Bayelsa during the presidential primaries.

President Jonathan, who was on a one-day official visit to his home state, was the first delegate to vote from the booth of the delegates from his Ogbia Local Government Area according to a statement from the Office of the Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to the President.