Jonathan Faces Suspension Over Support For APC Which Led To PDP’s Defeat In Bayelsa

Former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may be suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over his alleged romance with the All Progressives Congress (APC) which contributed to the defeat of his party in last Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State.

DailyTrust reports that PDP leaders are planning to punish those who worked against its interest during the governorship election in Bayelsa.

Goodluck Jonathan is one of those who may be suspended for the PDP’s failure in the state because some of the party’s leaders believe that his indifference gave the APC an easy ride to power.

It is believed that Jonathan withdrew his support for the PDP over a disagreement between him and Governor Seriake Dickson on who should represent the party in the governorship election in Bayelsa.

The former president was reported to have endorsed Timi Alaibe, while Dickson sponsored Senator Duoye Diri to get the party’s ticket.

Goodluck Jonathan was conspicuously absent during Senator Douye Diri’s campaign grand finale, and there are speculations that Jonathan and his wife, Patience, voted for the APC candidate, David Lyon, during the election last week Saturday.

Moreover, the victory of APC in Ogbia local government, where Jonathan hails from, with over 40,000 votes heightened suspicion on the role of the former president in the PDP’s defeat.

The former president’s hosting of two APC governors in Otuoke; the visit by Lyon and other APC leaders in the state; his non-support for the PDP candidate during the primary election; his non-attendance of the PDP grand rally; his visit to Buhari at the presidential villa, and the prayers made by his mother in support of Lyon have fuelled the speculations.

Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP national publicity secretary, said the party’s national working committee will investigate why the party lost in Bayelsa and Kogi.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) will meet soon to conduct a post-mortem on the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states,” he said.

If Jonathan is found guilty of engaging in any form of anti-party activity, he is liable to any or a combination of penalties such as reprimand, censure, fine, suspension with a fine, debarment from holding any party office, removal from office, or expulsion from the party, as provided in section 59 of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended).

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