Agriculture minister Heineken Lokpobiri emerges as APC frontrunner in Bayelsa governorship race

MINISTER of state for agriculture and rural development Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has emerged as a leading contender as the race to become Bayelsa State governor heats up after his candidacy was endorsed by the pressure group Bayelsans Arise for Good Governance.

On November 10, the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) will conduct governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States. In Kogi, Governor Yahaya Bello is looking for a second term but in Bayelsa, Governor Seriake Dickson will be standing down after two terms in office.

With Inec having already released the timetable for the elections, campaigning has begun in earnest in both states. Bayelsans Arise for Good Governance,  has thus started to mobilise support for Senator Lokpobiri, a former speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly,  a two-time senator and a current minister.

Its spokesman, Sufadoh Sufadoh said the minister, with his antecedents and political pedigree,  was positioned to promote good governance and deliver on the dividends of democracy in the state. He added that Senator Lokpobiri was a grassroots politician whose knack for excellence and sincere service to the state was devoid of pecuniary gains but to move Bayelsa to the next level of development.

Senator Lokpobiri will be seeking to get nominated as the All Progressives Congress candidate in the elections. In Governor Dickson's Peoples Democratic Party, the candidates are expected to include George Turner, Albertine Doibo and Ambassador Kenny Sotonye.