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… it’s definitely a two-man race as other parties are in heavy slumber
The political configurations and permutations are different now as the immediate past Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva goes for incumbent governor of Bayelsa, Duoye Diri’s jugular on Saturday.
In this analysis, TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) will take a look at the weaknesses and strengths of the major contenders before the battle tomorrow.
The political terrain now has taken a new lease of life as Sylva’s sudden victory over his k-legged qualification to run has been amended by the Court to enable him participate in tomorrow’s guber race.
Also, on the part of Governor Diri, the forces that ensured he lost the guber election in 2019 before a Justice Mary Odili panel on eve of swearing in ceremony sent shock waves into the APC camp by nullifying David Lyon’s victory.
The political configurations and critical stakeholders in Bayelsa November 2019 election then did not endorse the emergence of Governor Diri because his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson had stepped on powerful toes and the swing was shifted to David Lyon widely believed to be Sylva’s political acolyte.
The elders of the state threw their weight behind Lyon who then had a massive support from the Bayelsa youth who ensured his victory.
But as usual the judiciary took the last decision by effectively doing INEC’s job by announcing the results it deemed appropriate and Lyon lost out at the court.
Today it’s a new song in Bayelsa as all the critical stakeholders are backing Gov Diri including the former number one citizen in Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan who openly campaigned for Diri begging Bayelsans that he should be given a second chance.
Some disgruntled elements within the APC are also supporting the Diri’s candidacy making Sylva look like a loner in his own turf where he governed for five years.
In the Bayelsa guber race there are 20 contestants but the only party that could have made a little inroad was Labour Party, LP, but unfortunately the party barely 72hours to the election became heavily factionalized.
This development has given the APC and PDP a very good lead to aim at the Bayelsa government house.
A PEEP AT THEIR WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS:
Strength:
Diri a former House of Representatives member, past Senator has the incumbency factor working in his favor.
He has the local government chairmen, his commissioners, political appointees to help him galvanise the electorate.
Many political appointees across the thress senatorial districts of the state.
His political association with the elders of the state and critical stakeholders who one way or the other could swing the votes in his favor is a big plus to his chances of winning.
War chest: Heavily loaded to withstand Sylva’s onslaught from any quarter.
Weaknesses:
The incumbent despite embarking on massive infrastructural developments in continuity with former Governor Dickson’s vision, it’s still widely believed that he did not touch lives and human development index fell below par.
This could be dangerous because majority of those going to vote tomorrow are within this class.
Strengths:
Sylva understands the political terrain of the State like his backhand and had used his political appointment as Minister of State Petroleum Resources to empower a sizeable number of his grassroots supporters.
This is a very strong force that could galvanise votes for him on Saturday if Diri decides to slumber relying on the incumbency factor.
War chest: Sylva can match Diri Kobo for Kobo, Naira for Naira and if need be dollars for dollars. He has an entrenched war chest.
Weaknesses:
Sylva is largely considered by his very close allies as being brash and highly un predictable. This is a big minus for the lanky former minister of Petroleum Resources.
The other 18 contenders are bystanders they don’t have any business with Saturday guber election in Bayelsa.