A socio-political group, Bayelsa Democracy and Development Initiative (BDDI), has said that the incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, is not re-electable.

The group, coordinated by former Chief Press Secretary to former President Goodluck Jonathan while he was governor, Dr. Konrad Welson, stated that the Peoples Democratic Party might lose the governorship poll if it went ahead to present Dickson as candidate.

The group made its findings public in a statement made available to newsmen in Yenagoa on Tuesday.

BDDI said that its position was informed by the field research and survey the group conducted recently in the state.

According to the group, it interacted with people from the urban and rural areas of the state involving men, women, students, workers, professional bodies and youths to arrive at its position.

The group said: “We conducted a field research and survey with the findings showing that a good percentage of people of the state are not favourably disposed to the re-election bid of the state governor.

“The state of affairs is as a result of what the people perceive as a failure to live up to the expectations of the people in electing Dickson in 2011, coupled with his hostile and divisive leadership style and that being the flag bearer of the PDP may lead to the loss of the party in the state.”

The group also noted that its interface with the political class and civil society organisations in the last three months revealed alleged deep seated disdain and disappointment in the quality of leadership offered by Dickson.

It cited the acrimony in the PDP and the inability of the state government to offer basic amenities such as roads, hospitals and potable water in the state after three and a half years in the saddle.

The group added: “In the same vein, the BDDI admonishes the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, not to take Bayelsans for granted by solely relying on the perceived and assumed influence of the Federal Government for their fortune at the forthcoming election. The APC must work hard to present a candidate that is competent, credible and capable of governing the people.”

The group also advised the political class in the state and the entire civil society to work collaboratively and cooperatively in electing the best person as a way of achieving social justice and good governance in Bayelsa.

A government source, who craved anonymity, said they did not want to take issues with BDDI.

“Responding to the claim will amount to dignifying Konrad Welson. It is the government’s position that we do not react to such a statement,” the source stated.

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