PDP Cancels Bayelsa Guber Rally; Imoke In Pole For C’River Guber Ticket

CROSS RIVER STATE GOVERNOR LIYEL IMOKE

SAN FRANCISCO, January 22, (THEWILL) – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cancelled the political rally for the governorship candidate of the party in Bayelsa, following the deadly bombings in Kano over the weekend.
 
The PDP had planned to use the rally scheduled for Monday, January 23, 2012, to launch the governorship bid of its candidate, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, who secured a Federal High Court injunction a few days ago directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include his name on the February governorship ballot, as the PDP’s candidate for Bayelsa. Aggrieved Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva (PDP), has however asked an Appeal Court to vacate the order.  
 
A Sunday statement from National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said the decision was taken following “the sad events that took place in Kano on Friday, January 20, 2012 during which many lives were lost and several properties destroyed."
 
Meanwhile Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke is in pole position to clinch the party’s ticket for Cross River State ahead of main challenger, Mr. Soni Abang, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Mali.
 
Exit poll numbers amongst party delegates scheduled to cast their votes at the primary revealed an overwhelming support for Imoke at the election, thus setting the stage for the governor to return as party flag bearer for a second term.
 
Recall that both aspirants were successfully screened and cleared to contest the primaries on Monday, January 16, 2012 in Port Harcourt, River State.