Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State chapter has vowed to retrieve all stolen mandate belonging to the party in the state.

It also promised not to abandon supporters, who voted for its candidates in the just-concluded general elections in the state.

The party said it was doing everything legally possible to ensure stolen mandate got by disenfranchising whole communities would be retrieved and given back to the PDP candidates it rightfully belongs to.

  The party, which commended the people of the state for massively voting for its candidates in the elections, said it was particularly touched by those who lost their loved ones and sustained injuries while expressing their loyalty to PDP.

The party in a statement signed by the Director, Strategic Communication, Governor’s Office, Chief Nathan, Egba Ologo, said the leader of the party Governor Seriake Dickson, was grateful to the people for standing with the party despite provocation and intimidation.

According to him PDP is doing everything legally possible to retrieve and return “stolen” mandates to its candidates.

The statement quoted the state party Chairman, Cleopas Moses, as saying that the love the people have for the PDP is a long and enduring one and which had been demonstrated in every election cycle since 1999 till date.

Moses said: “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  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.”

While asking the people to remain calm, Moses congratulated all victorious candidates of the party and wished them successful and result-oriented tenures.

“I thank the resilient and brave people of Bayelsa State for standing firm and resolute in the face of unprecedented onslaught during the elections.

“We dedicate our victory to you especially those of you in rural communities.”