Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan supported APC in the just-concluded governorship election in the state.
APC’s David Lyon defeated PDP’s Duoye Diri to become the first candidate from outside the PDP to win the governorship polls in Bayelsa State since the return of democracy in 1999.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, Dickson claimed that he arranged to meet with the former 16 times, ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.
Dickson alleged that Jonathan chose not to meet with him, but rather supported opposition candidate, David Lyon, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), against his party’s flagbearer in the election, Senator Duoye Diri.
Dickson described Saturday’s election in the state as a military coup.
He claimed that the poll was a “charade and a carefully orchestrated plan” to forcefully take over Bayelsa State towards entrenching a one-party system.
According to him, the PDP did not lose the election, as it was characterised by violence and widespread malpractices, which were carefully documented.
He said that the perception that he alienated PDP stakeholders, including the former president, was unfounded, adding that the primary election that produced Duoye was credible.
“Jonathan remains my oga and I respect him, but there are lots of efforts by certain interest to create a rift between us, there is no politician that has been there for the former president than me.
“He has also helped me but it is unfortunate that I am being misconstrued in this matter of the election, I tried to meet Jonathan for 16 times and he opted to support a candidate that does not wish me well.
“I will soon write my memoirs and people will have a fair view of what happened, the visit of some APC governors to Jonathan who congratulated the APC candidate without congratulating the candidate of his party.
“It is strategic for APC leaders to use Jonathan to legitimise the illegitimacy that happened on Saturday.
“Our candidate, Sen. Douye Diri and the party chairman have been speaking about the charade called election that took place in Bayelsa on Saturday, and the invasion of our state by security forces.
“The dehumanisation of our people and how the majority of the areas and in places, where our people were denied the right to vote for the candidate of their choice.
“The story is all out there that what took place in the state on Nov. 16 was not a democratic election.
“So, today, I’m here to add my voice to all that has been said already, and it was so brazen, it has never been like this in this state before,” he said.
Dickson added: “I know that in 2015, we went through a very though time, there was displayed of federal might, but at least, it was not as bad as this.”
