REPS PRIMARIES: JONATHAN'S LOYALISTS LOSE OUT IN BAYELSA

Governor Dickson

As primary elections to choose candidates to fly the Peoples Democratic Party’s flag in next year’s House of Representatives elections were conducted nationwide, lawmakers loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan in his home state, Bayelsa, suffered heavy defeat, putting an end to their hope to return to the House.

The state governor, Seriake Henry Dickson, who was a member of the House before becoming governor, had earlier declared that none of the present lawmakers would return in 2015 on the platform of the party. Only Hon. Japheth Foinyan, out of the five members of the House of Representatives, won a ticket to contest in 2015.

The most notable of the President’s men who lost out is Hon Henry Ofongu, a staunch supporter of the President who, it will be recalled, started a fight with members of the breakaway faction of the PDP, when the leadership and governors of the defunct nPDP paid a visit to the House of Representatives last year.

In his Southern Ijaw federal constituency, he lost to Nimbofa Ayawei, who got 49 votes, after pulling only 24 votes.

Hon. Warman Ogoriba (Yenagoa/Kolokuma) lost with 31 votes to Hon. Douye Diri, who polled 65 votes to win the ticket. Chief Dikivie Ikiogha scored 19 votes.

Other results as contained in a release announced by the chairman of the electoral panel, General Idi Adamu (rtd), and made available to newsmen for the party primaries which were held in the five federal constituencies also showed that in Ogbia federal constituency, Sodaguwo Adega Festus-Omoni polled 49 to win the primary, while Joseph Ogu got one vote. The incumbent Nadu Karibo lost.

In Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency, incumbent Hon. Stella Dorgu lost to Fred Agbedi with 100, while in Nembe/Brass federal constituency, Jephtah Foinyan scaled through with 96 votes and Joseph Ateki polled three votes.

Commending party members for their peaceful disposition, Adamu said this has further confirmed the position of the leadership of the party that election is not a do-or-die affair.