By Chukwudi Obasi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has adopted President Bola Tinubu as the National Rainbow Coalition’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the expanded State Caucus and the party’s 100th State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held at the PDP secretariat in Yenagoa.
The meeting also reaffirmed the party’s loyalty to the Rainbow Coalition and ratified a vote of confidence in its National Leader and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, for his leadership and role in preserving the PDP as an opposition party.
The Bayelsa PDP Chairman and leader of the Rainbow Coalition in the state, Chief George Alabh Turnah, commended members for remaining committed to the party, while expressing appreciation to Wike for what he described as his efforts to rescue the PDP from those seeking to destroy it.
“As a political party, we thank God that he has preserved the party at the state and national level. Especially when some who grew through this party chose to bury the party, God took some of us, through the help of our national leader, Chief Nyesom Wike, to rescue and restore the party. We shall be eternally grateful to him,” Turnah said.
He said the party under his leadership would remain open and independent, insisting that it would not allow itself to be gagged.
Turnah, however, criticised the Bayelsa State Government over what he described as poor economic performance and inadequate provision of social services.
He lamented the alleged shortage of drugs and medical personnel in primary healthcare centres, saying the government had failed to fulfil its promise of prosperity for Bayelsans.
The PDP chairman also accused the administration of Governor Douye Diri of violating the state’s transparency law by allegedly failing to disclose the cost of government projects.
He questioned the expenditure on the recent 30th anniversary celebration of the state, saying the spending was not captured in the appropriation bill.
“Bayelsa State owes Bayelsans an explanation on the actual amount spent for the 30th anniversary, as it was not in the state appropriation bill. That money was spent outside the budget, and in a sane democracy, that is an impeachable offence,” he said.
Turnah also criticised the State House of Assembly for allegedly failing to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.
“We demand that the Diri administration publish, in naira and kobo, the expenditure of the Bayelsa at 30 celebrations. Until this is done, the Diri administration owes Bayelsans a public apology for the wasteful spending of their scarce resources,” he added.
On agriculture, Turnah said the sector had suffered neglect, with farmers allegedly receiving inadequate support from the state government.
“The agricultural sector in Bayelsa has collapsed. Our farmers have no support, and they are suffering. All the fish ponds established by the former administration of Senator Henry Seriake Dickson have been abandoned,” he said.
He also faulted the Bayelsa Stadium project, urging the government to prioritise unemployment, poverty and the provision of essential social services.
Turnah called on Bayelsans to support candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the forthcoming elections, saying the coalition had presented credible and competent candidates capable of restoring prosperity to the state.
