The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State on Monday refuted the purported endorsement of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, by the state Council of Elders.
It also denied the claim by former governor, Nestor Binabo that Governor Seriake Dickson was threatening his life.
In a statement by the Director of Publicity of the Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, he said it was deceitful and misleading for Sylva to have claimed the Council of Elders endorsed him whereas he only had an audience with the council where he was implored to ensure he ran a violence-free campaign and be ready to accept defeat in humility if he loses in the election.
Sylva was reported to have been endorsed by the elders as widely reported in the media but Obuebite said the reports were the figment of the imaginations of those behind what he said was a ploy to misinform the public.
He said the elders were seen on television stating their non-partisan leaning and wondered where Sylva got his own endorsement from the said Bayelsa Council of Elders.
He accused Sylva and his campaign team of spreading lies and mischievous publications to give the impression that he was acceptable to the people in the state but said this was a contrary situation, stating that the former governor has been rejected by the people.
He drew their attention to a recent poll purportedly conducted in the state in favour of Sylva in the December 5 governorship election, a move he described as “dubious and mischievous” efforts to mislead the people of the state and a desperate intention to rig the election.
He stated: “We are following the whole misguided orchestrations by the APC, the whole lies and mischief about their extensive conspiracy to rig the election but we can assure them that they will fail no matter how much they try. The truth is that Sylva cannot win the election because the good people of Bayelsa State are not with him. The teeming crowd of genuinesupporters we see following Governor Seriake Dicksoneverywhere in his grassroots campaigns says it all unlike the scanty rented crowd of the APC. On the election day, the people will decide who they want as their leader and not by any desperate resort to hoodwinking. We are confident of victory because the good people of Bayelsa State will defend their votes”.
The PDP also denied claim that Governor Seriake Dickson ever threatened the life of former governor, Nestor Binabo, stating that at no time did Dickson addressed any gathering where he threatened or quoted to have said Nestor Binabo was his greatest enemy as alleged.
He said any imputation to link the governor to such allegation was not only wicked but callous political orchestration which should be condemned.
Obuebite said Dickson was not the convectional politician who trades in lies or engage in needles propaganda and blackmail to score cheap political points. Rather, he said, he will use his time to campaign on issues that will enhance the wellbeing of the electorate.
