The door was finally slammed shut in the face of Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva yesterday when the national leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) banned him from participating in the party's gubernatorial primary election scheduled for November 19.The big hammer was also slammed on the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chief Timi Alaibe; former Director General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Mr Ben Murray-Bruce; and the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Ambassador Godknows Igali.The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) took the decision barely 24 hours after Sylva dared the party leadership and declared his intention to be in the party's primary election at a colourful rally in Yenagoa. The primary election comes up on Saturday.The case of the PDP four governorship aspirants, who had been sacked from the contest, was transferred to the party's National Working Committee (NWC) by Mrs Biodun Olujinmi-led Screening Appeal Panel 'for appropriate action' because the panel said it had no power to grant the request of the beleaguered aspirants.The panel withdrew the provisional clearance given to Sylva on the grounds of 'issues bordering on security' raised in a petition by a law firm. Daily Trust however learnt that the embattled governor was said to have threatened the life of President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife.Alaibe was disqualified on the grounds that he has not stayed in the party for the mandatory two years after leaving PDP for Labour Party (LP) earlier this year in pursuit of his governorship ambition. Murray-Bruce was also denied provisional clearance on the grounds that he is holding the dual citizenship of Nigeria and the United States of America.Igali was abroad to represent Nigeria at the United Nations 66th General Assembly on Water Resources, Food Security, Job Creation and Social Protection in New York when the screening exercise was held. He was said to have been disqualified for not resigning from his current position in government.PDP's National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, who announced the final names of seven aspirants that were cleared, declared that 'no aspirant can or should use a provisional certificate as a basis for unilaterally declaring himself or herself as a candidate of the party for the gubernatorial primary elections in Bayelsa State.'Alkali said all aspirants that were given a clean bill of health will be duly issued with final Clearance Certificates to enable them stand in the forthcoming primary elections. The PDP spokesperson, who mentioned the four aspirants that were not cleared in a statement, threatened that the party 'shall not hesitate to invoke disciplinary measures on any member who disregards lawful party directives or who engages in acts capable of undermining the party's cohesion or initiates and takes any step that could lead to the breaching of public peace.'The statement titled 'Final Decision on Bayelsa' reads: 'The NWC of PDP has concluded the review of the reports of the Screening Committee and Screening Appeal panel for the gubernatorial primaries in Bayelsa State scheduled to hold on the 18th of November 2011.'After a thorough review of the two reports, and after a painstaking examination of all the issues raised about each and every aspirant, the NWC has cleared seven out of the 11 aspirants that purchased forms to contest for the primaries. Those who were cleared and shall contest the gubernatorial primaries are the following: Orufa Justine Boloubo; Dickson Seriake Henry; Enai Christopher Fullpower; Kalango Michael Youppele; Francis Amaebi; Ekiyegha Francis Korobido and Austin Febo.'However, in this last and final batch, four of the aspirants did not scale through the party screening process and have therefore not been cleared to contest the primaries. Those not cleared are: Alaibe Ndutimi; Ben Murray Bruce; Timipre Marun Sylva and Igali Godknows Boladet.'All members of the party, especially stakeholders in Bayelsa State should note that this is the final decision on the status of all aspirants for the forthcoming primaries. All efforts should now be geared towards mobilizing party members for the forthcoming primaries and elections in the state.'In view of the forgoing, all those aspirants whose names appear in para 2 above will be duly issued with final Clearance Certificates to enable them stand for the forthcoming primary elections. For the avoidance of doubt, and in line with the provisions of our guidelines for primary elections, no aspirant can or should use a provisional certificate as a basis for unilaterally declaring himself or herself as a candidate of Peoples' Democratic Party for the gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa State. Even where he or she does so, it is of no value, effect or utility for the primary elections and is therefore redundant.'The NWC wishes to reiterate its commitment towards enforcing discipline within the ranks of the party at all levels. We shall therefore not hesitate to invoke disciplinary measures on any member who disregards lawful Party directives or who engages in acts capable of undermining the Party's cohesion or initiates and takes any step that could lead to the breaching of public peace.'The coast is therefore clear for a member of the Federal House of Representatives and former Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Henry Dickson, who is considered to be the candidate of President Goodluck Jonathan, to get the PDP governorship ticket come Saturday. The winner of Saturday's gubernatorial primary election will represent PDP in the February 11, 2012 governorship election in Bayelsa State.
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