The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday approved the clearance of the second batch of aspirants to contest the party's Bayelsa State gubernatorial primaries on November 19, 2011.The party, through its National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said those in the second batch of cleared aspirants are Doukpala Francis Amaebi; Ekiyegha Fred Korobido and Austin Febo.Alkali said the review of the reports of the Screening Committee and the Screening Appeal Panel for the gubernatorial primaries in Bayelsa State still continues until all issues concerning all aspirants are successfully dealt with and disposed off.Last week Tuesday, the NWC cleared four aspirants: Orufa Justine Boloubo; Henry Seriake Dickson; Enai Christopher Fullpower; and Kalango Michael Youppele. Yesterday's clearance of more contestants brought the number of aspirants that could participate in the primary election to seven.The chance of incumbent Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva; ex-Chairman of NDDC Timi Alaibe and former Director General of NTA Ben Bruce to make the list is still dim.Sylva's case is being reviewed for allegedly making treasonable comments against the President Goodluck Jonathan. Alaibe is facing challenges over his inability to get a waiver to contest the primaries, having returned to PDP recently after he quit the party earlier this year. Bruce is being stopped for holding dual citizenships of Nigeria and the United States of America.In the meantime, the PDP national leaders have threatened to punish those accusing them of allegedly collecting various sums of money from Bayelsa State governorship aspirants if they refuse to desist from such acts forthwith.PDP spokesperson Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali yesterday described the allegations as mischievous and false in their entirety. He said the NWC under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje is deeply committed to due process and the rule of law and no amount of mudslinging, intimidation and blackmail will divert their attention.He renewed his call on party members in Bayelsa State to remain calm and focused and not to allow any desperate political elements to cause division within their ranks.Meanwhile, governors under the aegis of PDP Governors' Forum yesterday met President Goodluck Jonathan in their bid to ensure that Bayelsa State Governor was cleared to take part in November 19 gubernatorial primary election. Sources said the governors, who were at the Villa last night, are bent on ensuring that Sylva was not stopped from embarking on his re-election bid through any secretive means.
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