The Bayelsa State Government has rejected, in strong terms, what it termed erroneous insinuation’ in the congratulatory message by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in the state and a gubernatorial aspirant in the 2019 PDP primary election, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, purporting that “fundamental issues regarding the eligibility of some of the delegates to the primary election process were not determined and remained unresolved”, even after the matter had been settled by the Supreme Court.
In a statement made available to The Nigerian Xpress issued by Special Assistant New Media to Governor Douye Diri of the state, Paul Okoriye, it said Alaibe’s position in his congratulatory message to Governor Diri, “is also a misrepresentation of fact and clearly in contradiction to the general principles of such a judicial position by the Supreme Court”.
Okoriye’s statement read thus, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, where he alleged that no court of law had disputed his claims about the processes leading to the September 3, 2019 gubernatorial primary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that produced Governor Douye Diri, as standard bearer.
“Chief Alaibe, in a statement, expected to convey his congratulatory message to Governor Diri, on the Supreme Court verdict, erroneously insinuated that the fundamental issues regarding the eligibility of some of the delegates to the primary election process were not determined and remained unresolved.
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“The statement circulating on the social media titled, ‘Alaibe Vs Others: It is a party affair, says Supreme Court’, was purportedly signed by one Ogio Enize, Personal Assistant to Chief Timi Alaibe.
“The Justices of the Supreme Court, in dismissing the appeal brought to them by Chief Alaibe, reminded him of the supremacy of the political party in the nomination and sponsorship of candidates for election and so, such a pronouncement should suggest to Chief Alaibe that he could not have foisted his own assumed or personal electoral process on the leadership of his party as an aspirant.
“It is, however, ridiculous and uncharitable to state that the contending issues have not been addressed when, in fact, the Apex Court referred Chief Alaibe back to his party on any issue regarding processes to be adopted for candidates’ nomination including selection of delegates.
“It is also a misrepresentation of fact and clearly in contradiction to the general principles of such a judicial position by the Supreme Court, except Chief Alaibe would want to unilaterally set his own personal electoral rules and impose such on the party.
“The main case was dismissed for lack of merit at both the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal, a similar circumstance that led to the withdrawal of the appeal at the Apex Court after the Justices advised Chief Alaibe’s counsels on the consequences of going ahead to entertain the matter that is lacking in substance.
“So, this write up is to correct the misinformation contained in the statement purportedly issued by Chief Alaibe.
“It is absolutely preposterous to mislead people by this one-sided interpretation of the Supreme Court verdict being served the public by Chief Alaibe, who came second in the September 3rd, 2019 primaries.
“It must be unequivocally stated that no section of the PDP constitution and electoral guideline were breached in the processes leading to the primary election and as such the primary that produced Sen. Douye Diri as the PDP Standard bearer remained legal as affirmed by the three levels of the court in the land.
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“Many Bayelsans, including members of the PDP, are quivered with indignation at the tone of the purported congratulatory statement that should bury all differences arising from that PDP gubernatorial primaries to usher in a political re-alignment for a new beginning.
“While using this medium to set the record straight, it is must be noted that the Prosperity Administration of Governor Douye Diri has continually urged politicians to eschew bitterness and bickering and rather toe the genuine path of reconciliation and unity within the PDP and Bayelsa State in general.
“After the Supreme Court verdict, His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri, again extended hands of fellowship to Chief Alaibe and other members of the opposition to join hands with him to move the state forward.
“The calls for unity and genuine spirit of reconciliation being championed by Governor Diri is expected to be reciprocated by Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, who benefitted from the generosity of the party leadership with a waiver to enable him contest the primaries few months after returning to the PDP.
“It is, therefore, a perfidy to see what looks like a reluctant words of congratulations from Chief Alaibe, at the tail end of his lengthy statement that is struggling to justify why he went to the court in the first place.
“The general interest of Bayelsa State should be placed above every other consideration and today the Governor of Bayelsa State is Senator Douye Diri.”