AN alleged plot by Governor Seriake Henry Dickson of Bayelsa State to impose the Chairman of the state’s Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) is causing tension.
It is believed that the governor is using two of his aides, Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs, Richman Ndakwe and Special Adviser on Inter-Party Matters, Stephen Diver, to perpetrate the act.
The choice of the duo, Lucky Akpeli, a staff of the House of Assembly and Chairman of the state chapter of the National Conscience Party (NCP), has been rejected by the CNPP.
Other aspirants are Comrade Wennis Oweitongue (Alliance For Democracy), Engr. John Sukare (All Progressives Grand Alliance) and Comrade Edwin Tare (Democratic Peoples Party).
The CNPP had last week postponed its July 9 general election of new executives into the CNPP due to the alleged insistence of Ndakwe and Diver for the adoption of a chairmanship candidate from Sagbama Local Government.
The pressure from the duo is against the push by members of the opposition to allow for a free and fair election into the CNPP exco.
Those opposed to Akpeli’s candidature are of the opinion that the move is at variance with the Dickson administration’s position on civil servants mixing politics with the civil service structure.
They are also kicking against Akpeli’s candidature because he hails from the same Sagbama axis with Dickson.
Due to the opposition to his candidature, the Secretary General of the Conference, Chief Willy Ezugwu and three national officers had to abandon the postponed election.
They were in Yenagoa last week to monitor the election.
But Akpeli dismissed the opposition to his candidature.
He said: “They are uninformed and ignorant of the provisions of the article forming the CNPP. If they have any case against me, they should write my employer. If my employer is not against my aspiration, then they don’t a case.
“The position is not an elective one. The CNPP is a forum of individuals and parties. If it is an elective position, they can raise such objections. We have decided we are coming together and with no salary paid to the leadership of the CNPP. Their claim is not tenable.”
