The chances of the Chairman, Senate Committee Chairman on Water Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, contesting the 2015 elections have further dimmed. Reason: The the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Appeal Committee on Senate and House of Representatives primaries has thrown out his petition on the outcome of last Sunday’s Bayelsa West Senatorial District Primary held at the auditorium of the Bayelsa State College of Education, Sagbama.
The Appeal Committee argued that “there was no parallel primary” as claimed by the petitioner, and went ahead to recommend appropriate sanctions or reprimand to deter others from such despicable conduct.
The Appeal Committee in the report signed by its Chairman, Barrister Bashir Maidugu; Secretary, Hon. Michael Uba Obande and member, Jennifer Madueke, described the conduct of Lokpobiri as unbecoming of a distinguished Senator.
Commending the PDP leadership in Bayelsa State and the security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the primaries, the report stated that “there were no parallel primaries in any of the Federal Constituencies and Senatorial Districts in the State.”
The report reads: “In the Bayelsa West Senatorial primary, all contestants participated with delegates duly accredited and voting including the Governor and almost all statutory delegates who are leaders of the Party.
“A serving Senator, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who came while results had been announced, regrettably stormed out and organised thugs and other non delegates to purportedly declare himself as the winner of the primaries.
“The Committee is of the view that, his conduct is unbecoming of a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic and a party leader, who had had the privilege of flying the party’s flag and representing his people twice prior to now and who, therefore is expected to exhibit greater respect for the democratic processes of our party.
“The committee recommends that appropriate sanction or reprimand should follow to deter others from such despicable conduct.”
•Photo shows Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
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