Dickson says his victory is a resounding rejection of APC by Bayelsa peole

Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson, has defeated his closest opponent, Hon Peremobowei Ebebi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to win the Bayelsa West Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly. The Returning Officer, Prof Ekechukwe, Okeke, Dean of Humanities, Federal University of Technology, Otuoke, returned Dickson as the Senator elect having polled 115257 to defeat Ebebi, who polled 17541.

Dickson who spoke in his country home of Toru Orua shortly after his return dedicated the victory to God, the voters, Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation. He said that the mandate was beyond the Sagbama/Ekeremor Senatorial district but an opportunity to galvanize unity and solidarity in Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.

Noting that his legislative mission would focus on the pursuit of the imperative of restructuring of the country which he described as a task that must be done. He said he would exploit the opportunity of his contacts to build new bridges of understanding, consolidation of existing bonds and effective networking with critical stakeholders.

Stating further that the quest for electoral reforms and a deepened democratic system would command a major aspect of his mission at the Senate. The Senator-elect said that he would link up with senators to call attention to the mindless rape of the Niger Delta environment by the multinational oil companies.

He stressed that the oil firms commit environmental terrorism against the people of the oil bearing communities and even sponsor killings in collusion with their pipeline protection contractors, without sanction. Chief Dickson noted that he would also focus attention on Police, law and order and justice sector reforms. He assured the people of Bayelsa that he would network with friends and contacts to attract development to the state and called on the people to give the necessary support to Governor Douye Diri deliver on his electoral promises, He also invited his opponent, Ebebi, who he described as his brother to join him in the mission to attract the needed development to the area.

While commending the Indepedent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies for their commendable conduct which he said was a marked departure from the practice in the past, he urged Ebebi to set their political differences aside and work for the good of Bayelsa State, now that the elections are over. He however observed that the outcome of the election signified a resounding rejection of the APC by the good people of Bayelsa.