Bayelsa Polls: Patience Jonathan Set To Dump Gov Dickson

A report by Thisday newspaper indicates that former first lady, Patience Jonathan, may have withdrawn her support for Governor Seriake Dickson barely a week to the rescheduled governorship election in Bayelsa state.

According to the report, Mrs Jonathan is said to be mobilising support and resources for Chief Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the polls.


The report also revealed that Mrs Jonathan and Sylva had a secret meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital on New Year’s Day along with ex-militant leader, Chief Ateke Tom.

Sylva’s presence in Port Harcourt has been confirmed by Chief Nathan Egba, the director of publicity in his campaign organisation, but denied  any meeting with Tom Ateke, who he referred to as not relevant to the election, but he kept mute on Mrs Jonathan.

The report quoted a source in the camp of Governor Dickson confirming the rapprochement between Mrs Jonathan and Sylva, adding that despite her attending the governor’s rally at the beginning of campaigns,the former first lady had never really reconciled with Dickson.

Also, key political associates of former president Goodluck Jonathan were said to have renewed their resolve to ensure Dickson loses the election.

Recall that the cold war between Mrs. Jonathan and Dickson was resolved by some Bayelsa elders, including the former governor of the state, late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Mrs Jonathan had announced her decision to reconcile with Dickson on Wednesday, September 2 2015. She went ahead and directed all her loyalists in the state to work selflessly for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the re-election of the Dickson.

Close aides of the former first lady had then told journalists that she decided to support the PDP and Dickson’s second term bid to prevent the defeat of the party in the state by the APC, which they said she reasoned would be a disgrace to her husband in his home state.

It is not clear why the former first lady, popularly called ‘Mama Peace’ has now changed her mind, if this report is to be believed.

Trouble started between the duo when Mrs Jonathan resigned her appointment as a permanent secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service. Though she was said to have left voluntarily, sources had said it was because of the sour relationship between her and the governor.

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