By Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State chapter, has pledged not to abandon supporters, who made sacrifices for the party, including those who sustained injuries during the just-concluded general elections.
Several persons were either killed or maimed during the polls, including a leader of the party in Southern Ijaw and a Government House photographer, Reginald Dei.
While lauding the people of the state for massively voting for its candidates in the elections, the PDP said it was particularly touched by those who lost their loved ones and sustained injuries.
In a statement signed by the Director, Strategic Communication, Governor’s Office, Chief Nathan Egba Ologo, the party said the Leader of the party, Governor Seriake Dickson was grateful to the people for standing with the party despite provocation and intimidation.
The statement quoted the Chairman of the party, Cleopas Moses, as saying that the love the people had for the PDP was a long and enduring one and had been demonstrated in every election circle since 1999 till date.
“The challenges and hurdles that were deliberately placed in your way in the course of your keeping faith with our party in the recently held elections were enormous, yet you neither wavered nor were discouraged.
“As a party, we take cognisance of this and are deeply appreciative. As for those families that lost their loved ones, we want to assure you that the PDP will not forget or abandon you.
“ I want to assure Bayelsans that our leader the Contriman Governor and the Party will never take Bayelsa people for granted, rather we will work even harder to deliver on our party’s promises to the people.
“We are sensitive to the fact that some of our teeming supporters in parts of the State are feeling despondent as a result of the brazen manner in which whole communities and constituencies were deliberately disenfranchised during the elections, yet results were written in favour of candidates whom the people never voted for” he said.
The party boss said in the spirit of democratic principles, the PDP was doing everything legally possible to retrieve and return “ stolen” mandates to its candidates.
“I thank the resilient and brave people of Bayelsa State for standing firm and resolute in the face of unprecedented onslaught during the elections” he said.
