Senator vs oil contractor: Who replaces Dickson as Bayelsa governor?

On October 16, a meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which was holding in Bayelsa ahead of the state governorship election ended abruptly over what could have been a violent clash. 

At first observation, the brawl seemed to have involved youth from some communities mentioned in the cause of the discussion at the meeting being presided over by Mahmood Yakubu, INEC national chairman and attended by senior security officials, including a deputy inspector-general of police (DIG). But a a closer look would later reveal their identities: supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling and main opposition parties in the state respectively.

That incident, more than anything, captures the atmosphere in Bayelsa and the nature of the election which holds barely three weeks away. Although INEC announced 45 political parties whose candidates will be participating in the election, the two parties involved in the chaos no doubt have higher chance of securing a spot at the Creek Haven, the seat of governance in the state, by the time the ballot is concluded in November.

Although the PDP has remained in power in Bayelsa since 1999, now under the leadership of bigwigs such as former president Goodluck Jonathan, recent happenings suggest the APC could pull a string at the polls considering the party has not had it all that bad in the state. In the last national assembly elections, the party shared the available slots with the PDP, winning three of the eight seats including Bayelsa east senatorial district where the former president is from. 

THE CANDIDATES

Although the APC looked good to field Timipre Sylva, a former governor, as candidate in the governorship poll, Slyva was forced to withdraw from the race after taking over as minister of state for petroleum resources. He, however, threw his weight behind David Lyon, a businessman and oil contractor, who defeated five other aspirants with over 90 percent of the votes cast in the primary election (42,138 votes).

His emergence, and more so, his margin of victory, was a surprise to many considering that he is not known to have played active party politics before the election period. In fact, pundits believe Lyon lacks the wherewithal to match the might of the PDP candidate considering that he has also not held any major political office in the state apart from being a community youth leader.

For the PDP, Timi Alaibe, a former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was viewed as the favoured candidate to emerge the ruling party’s flag bearer in the elections considering his experience; between 1999 and 2003, he contested the PDP governorship primaries against Diepreye Alameiseigha, late governor of the state, and Jonathan. He had also taken a shot at the government position under the APC and the Labour Party at various times. But luck continued to evade him, this time in favour of Diri Duoye who is believed to have the backing of Seriake Dickson, the state governor.

Even though he is a key member of the governor’s political camp popularly called the Restoration Group, just like Alaibe, Duoye’s emergence also came as a surprise; Alaibe was favoured to lead the PDP team, considering he enjoyed more support at the grassroots and had the backing of Jonathan.

Diri, who had been a member of the house of representatives from 2015 to 2019, was elected senator representing Bayelsa central district during the last elections held in February. Before then, he has had some political experience serving as commissioner for youth and sports under Jonathan’s administration as well as the deputy chief of staff under Dickson.

While we wait for the final day, here is a dossier on the two candidates:

DIRI DUOYE

DAVID LYON