The November 2019 governorship race in Bayelsa State has been thrown open to all members of the Restoration caucus of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which reportedly controls over 80 per cent of the party in the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday. He quoted the State Governor, The Honourable Seriake Dickson, as having called on members of the Restoration Team with interest to contest the governorship election to pick the party’s intent form for the process of consultations to begin.

The governor said that three aspirants had earlier approached the leadership of the party and the Restoration Caucus to indicate interest in line with the decision of the Governor to approach the issue of candidate selection for the next election with prayers and consultations.

The governor expressed happiness that several members of the Restoration Team have come out to indicate interest in the governorship contest.

He said that the expanding number of aspirants from the fold of the Restoration Team under his leadership showed the existence of large number of highly competent and dedicated men of repute who are prepared to undertake the crucial mission of leading the state after him.

The Governor had said severally that the party’s candidate who would be a member of the Restoration Team must have the qualities of being steadfast and loyal and would be product of wide consultation.

Governor Dickson said that with the successful conclusion of the prayers and fasting session, all members of the Restoration Team with the ambition to govern the state should make their interest known to the party so that they could get the form.

The statement also quoted the Governor as having called on Bayelsans to make a dispassionate assessment of the aspirants for the Restoration team to make the crucial decision on who to back in the primaries.

He said that all members of the Restoration Team with interest to contest the governorship would be supported for the purpose of continuity and stability in the governance of the state.

He added that all key members of the Restoration Team would sit to decide on which candidate to back in the forthcoming PDP primaries in the state.

He stressed that the assessment by the state was crucial as it would form the basis upon which a final decision would be made.

He said: “The Restoration Team has taken a decision to back one of its own to contest the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

“The Restoration Team is inclined to support a candidate from the Restoration Caucus of the PDP for the governorship ticket because of the imperative of continuity and stability in governance.

“It is on the basis of this that any member of the Restoration Team who has ambition is called upon to pick the form. The caucus shall make all the necessary arrangements for consultations within the Restoration Caucus of the PDP before taking a final decision on who to support.”

He added further that adequate mechanism had been put in place for getting feedback from the citizens in addition to wide consultations within the party and the entire state upon which a decision would be taken on who should be backed in the primaries.

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