5 Bayelsans That Will Challenge Seriake Dickson In The December 2015 Governorship Election

Bayelsa state is gearing up for its gubernatorial election which will take place in the month of December 2015.

There are over 10 contestants for the position, occupied by incumbent, Seriake Dickson, who is also seeking to return to the Bayelsa state government house, popularly called, Creek Haven.

Naij.com has decided to prone down the number of  the contestants to 5.  Indeed, in every political contest, there are contenders and pretenders. Read below:

1. Moses Siasia (PDP): His ambition is one that reverberates round the state and even beyond. His popularity will no doubt be a source of concern for Governor Seriake Dickson. Three things that work for Siasia are, his immense and admirable contributions to the presidential aspiration of his kinsman and former president, Goodluck Jonathan, as the coordinator of Young Nigerian Professionals; he is young and popular among the youths in the state, as they see him as one of their own; he is a sibling to one of Nigeria’s most popular footballer and coach of all time, Samson Siasia. Given the way many Nigerians and indeed Bayelsans adore Siasia, it will surely work in favour of Moses. Also worth mentioning, is the fact that he is from the same local government area with Governor Dickson.

Moses Siasia

2. Timipre Sylva (APC): The former governor of Bayelsa state was unceremoniously booted out by a political hurricane in 2012. His disagreement with Jonathan cost him his job. Although, he has not indicated his interest to contest for the position, Sylva is in a pole position to grab the ticket as far as the All Progressives Congress is concerned. If he is not interested, he will no doubt have a major say in whoever emerge in the party, as he single-handedely built the party with his allies after he decamped from the PDP.

Timipre Sylva

3. Timi Alaibe (PDP/APC): Although some analysts describe as a dark horse in the race to Creek Haven, other say he is yet to decide on the platform in which he will contest. Alaibe is a force to reckon with in Bayelsa politics. He has also contested for the governorship election in the PDP in the past, but lost the contest to political intrigues within the party. The former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission will no doubt give Governor Dickson a run for his money if he decides to throw his hat into the ring.

Timi Alaibe

4. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP/APC): Another supposed dark horse in the race is Senator Lokpobiri. To his credit, Lokpobiri is one of the finest senators that Nigeria has ever produced. Eloquent, bold and always flowing with ideas, Lokpobiri was caught in the power tussle between Jonathan’s men (he is in the Jonathan’s camp) and Dickson’s men during the build up to the 2015 election. Analysts predict the revered senator will test the waters by contesting the election, even as he is still in court trying to upturn his defeat in the PDP primary election for the senatorial seat.It is not clear if he will stick to the PDP or will defect to the APC.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (L), with former senate president, David Mark.

5. Senator Clever Ikiskpo (APC): Ikiskpo caused ripples in Bayelsa political firmament when he announced his defection from the PDP to the APC immediately after Jonathan lost the April 2015 presidential election. He is from the same area with the ex-president and used to be in the inner circles of the Jonathan. His defection is no doubt because he has an eye on the APC ticket for the governorship poll.

Senator Clever Ikisikpo

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable for governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.

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