Doukpola declares PDP guber candidate in Bayelsa
Bayelsa state PDP governorship aspirant Francis Doukpola has declared himself the candidate following the elevation of Gov. Goodluck Jonathan as vice presidential candidate.
Doukpola told newsmen in Yenagoa on Wednesday that he had filled INEC's screening form to that regard.
Doukpola said he would embark on reconciliation talks with those who had been aggrieved with the party because of the endorsement of Jonathan as the candidate.
He noted that INEC's publication of his name some days ago as Bayelsa PDP's gubernatorial candidate confirmed that he had been accepted.
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Doukpola came third at PDP governorship primaries with eight votes.
Doukpola explained that because the incumbent deputy governor Peremobowei Ebebi did not contest the primaries, there was no way he could have stepped into Jonathan's shoes.
"You cannot contest an election with a divided house, I will, therefore, strive to foster the reconciliation of the entire PDP family in Bayelsa,'' he said.
He said: ``We should all move forward by consolidating on Jonathan's achievements and my focus will primarily be on the socio-economic empowerment of the people.''
Doukpola promised to tackle the problems of hostage-taking and youth restiveness and said a stakeholders' meeting would be convened to chart a way forward.
Doukpola's nomination by Jonathan as the party governorship candidate was generated protests within PDP.