The Disciplinary Committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State to probe alleged anti-Party activities of some political appointees and elected officers in the State were yesterday told that the dismal showing by the Party during the last election in some parts of the State was due to in-fighting, mistrust and wrongful choice of candidates presented by the Party for the election.
The Disciplinary Committee led by Hon. Cleaopas Moses,during the hearing into the alleged cases of anti-Party activities,sponsorship of opposition candidates against the PDP candidate and refusal to work for the party during the last elections,were told by summoned Party members including aides to the State Governor,Hon. Seriake Dickson,that the dismal performance of the Party in Brass, Kolokuma/Opokuma were due to unsettled crises among members of the party before,during and after the polls.
Out of the Seven persons summoned by the Disciplinary Committee to appear before it on alleged anti-Party activities,six appeared with Hon.Seibarugu,the Former State Deputy Governor during the Governor Timipre Sylva administration shunning the invitation of the Committee.
Among those that appeared before the include a Commissioner in the State House of Assembly Commission, Barr. Ikoko Philip Mark, the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Local Government Matters, Hon.Robinson Utolor,the Chairman of the PDP in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the State, Beinor Concliff Feibar and the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Transport Matters and Logistics,Engr. Efeibor Ikemoye.
While Hon.Robinson Utolor told the Disciplinary Committee that the decision to invite him before the committee based on alleged anti-Party action is frivolous and embarrassing.He said instead of being accused,he should be commended for working for the party and securing victory for the Party in his area.
Engr. Efeibor Ekemoye,while speaking on the dismal performance of the PDP in Brass Constituency 1 in which the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) emerged victorious as a State Assembly member-elect,said the Party leaders failed to field the right candidate as the incumbent,Hon. Sam Ateke,was a candidate not acceptable to the people of the area.
According to Ekemoye, inspite of the show of mistrust and signs of Infighting among party members with the last minute swapping of names of party agents by the Candidate,Hon.Sam Ateke,”the allegation of anti-Party action is a slight and an assassination of character.I had informed the party before now that the candidate being presented in the incumbent,Hon. Sam Ateke is not acceptable.I knew that with the wrong candidature,the victory for the party was impossible.”
Earlier in his opening address,the Chairman of the Party Disciplinary Committee,Hon. Cleaopas Moses said though the committee received hundreds of petitions and complaints on the performance of those summoned during the last Presidential,National and State Assembly elections,”the committee was not set up to witch hunt anyone.The committee was set up to instil discipline and ensure decorum,especially against those party members under elective and appointive positions,facilitated under auspices of the Party,who nevertheless,chose to sabotage the party and it’s sponsored candidates in the past National and State Assembly elections.”
“Depending on the value and weight of evidence available,the committee would in tandem with provisions of the PDP constitution (as amended),the evidence Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,hear,evaluate evidence and met out appropriate measures,sanctions and if appropriate,absolve,exonerate and proffer recommendations as would conduct with the outlook of each case.”