The ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State have both sworn to win the forthcoming state House of Assembly poll scheduled for April 11.
The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Osom Makbere, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the APC, Mr. Peres Peretu, spoke on the expectations of the two major political parties in the state in separate telephone interviews on Monday with our correspondent.
Makbere said the PDP was expecting to register its traditional dominance in the state by winning 24 of the House of Assembly seats.
He said Bayelsa State, being the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan, had always been a PDP stronghold.
He dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the victory of the APC presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on March 28 would affect the electoral fortunes of the PDP.
Makbere stressed that PDP remained the ruling party in the state and would continue to work hard to ensure its dominance of the political space.
He said, “This is a PDP stronghold; it is a PDP state. Our electoral fortunes have not been affected. No, it has not reduced.
“Like the APC that was waxing strong even when President Jonathan had not been voted out; the PDP will also remain strong during the coming administration; the PDP is working. Thank God, the governor is still there.
“The outcome of the presidential election would not affect the PDP… By and large, the PDP would dominate the polls. ”
The PDP spokesman was, however, not specific about the number of seats the PDP was targeting in the House of Assembly poll.
However, he was contradicted by the APC, BOT member, Peretu, who contended that the APC hoped to leverage on the party’s victory in the presidential election.
According to Peretu, the people of Bayelsa are known to play what he described as pro-establishment politics and would soon embrace the APC.
He said that the victory of the APC at the national level would translate to victory for the party at the state level.
He added that the APC was sure of victory in a free and fair poll, because the party’s candidates were popular.
He said, “We are sure of victory, our men are on ground. The victory of the APC at the national level would be translated to victory at the state level.
“Our people play a pro-establishment politics and in no distant time things will change, and they are inclined towards working for the APC.
“We believe that the APC would be victorious if the results of the votes will be announced as they are cast.”
