Jonathan, Former President
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been linked to the disqualification of Senator Emmanuel  Paulker, one of the gubernatorial aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP for the Bayelsa State governorship election.

Proffering explainatiion to the development, Director-General of the  Governorship Campaign Organization of Senator Emmanuel Paulker's tagged "Renewal 2016",  Chief  Ayakeme Whiskey, alleged that  there  was  initial pressure mounted on the serving Senator to withdraw from the race by the former President.

"We are aware of how much energy he (Jonathan) exerted to create seamless ride for Governor Seriake Dickson because in his thinking only a sitting Governor can win elections. It was this myopic thinking that led to the incalculable damage the leadership of the Party foisted on the PDP that led to the plummeting fortunes after the 2015 General Elections. Unfortunately, Jonathan refuseS to heed the admonition of Max Depree who opined that the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.Where is the promise by the leaders of the PDP to provide a level playing field for all aspirants?" Ayakeme queried while addressing a press conference on the matter.

He dismissed as shocking and laughable, allegations that the Senator was  disqualified because of  the non-availability of his Pay As You Earn PAYE) tax clearance certificates from the National Assembly, while another aspirant,  Chief Ebinkitin Diogoli was disqualified based on alleged financial misconduct during his tensure as LGA  Chairman in the State.


 Whiskey  stressed that  the supporters of both Paulker and Diongoli could not fathom the reasons for their disqualification by the Screening Committee," Neither the Senator, nor  Diongoli were briefed on the basis on which they were disqualified. We later discovered  that it was based on  spurious allegations, one of which was that Sen.  Paulker did not attach acceptable Tax documents."

"This was indeed incredulous and laughable.That a sitting Senator, who ordinarily, should have nothing against him,                         should be whimsically disqualified by the same Party that allowed him fly their flag to the Senate barely six months ago on flimsy excuse of tax papers is most unfortunate. We are however flustered by the seeming inability of the PDP to learn from its mistakes. Suffice it to say that the woeful defeat of the PDP during the Presidential election was due to its total disrespect for internal democracy.

"It had direct propensity with the desire of the Party to shut the gate for contest against all other aspirants.Those who cannot learn from history are indeed destined to repeat it. While our main opponents in Bayelsa, the APC, have thrown the doors open to its 19 aspirants,  the PDP,  as usual, have closed the doors against all other aspirants leaving the incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson, as sole candidate. We make bold to say that posterity will vindicate the just and history will punish the wicked.

"Can the Party Leadership including Dr. Goodluck Jonathan come clean to tell Nigerians that a serving Senator does not have Tax Papers and committed such heinous crime against the Party deserving of disqualification?  RegrettablyIy, the reality to the leaders of the Party is absurd and self destructive. It appears the PDP is not tired of loosing more of its members to the opposition, APC."