Ex Gov. Dickson Coerced Party-man Alaibe to Withdraw Litigation Over Gov. Diri, as Bayelsa PDP Chieftain Timi Alaibe, has turned into a beautiful bride overnight for the Dickson PDP in Bayelsa State following the swearing-in of Senator Douye Diri as governor.

According to reports, Alaibe is being seriously courted by the PDP party’s hierarchy and the immediate past governor, Seriake Dickson to stop his ongoing litigation which they strongly believe could truncate the newly elected Gov. Diri’s tenure.

The former NDDC MD who contested the PDP’s governorship primary with Diri is currently in court seeking an order that he be declared as the validly nominated governorship candidate of the party.

He was heavily backed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the race but lost in the primaries to Dickson’s candidate, Diri.

Moment after Diri’s swearing-in on Friday 14th February, 2020, Diri accompanied by Dickson and the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus went on a private visit to see ex president Jonathan in his hometown, Otuoke.

The Nation gathered that the move was to beg the ex-President to prevail on Alaibe to drop his litigation against Diri.

Complaining of irregularities, Alaibe had immediately after the party primaries filed a case against Diri’s candidature at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, the state capital.

In Suit No: FHC/YNG/CS/99/2019 filed before the court, Alaibe is, among other things, urged the Court to declare him as the validly nominated governorship candidate of the PDP. He joined the PDP, Diri and two others as defendants.

The case was later moved to Owerri when Alaibe complained about security in Yenagoa. On the 15th of October, 2019, Justice Jane Inyang, who was hearing the matter, announced the sudden transfer of the case to Abuja.

He cited an order of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court as the reason for the transfer. The matter came up for hearing only on the 8th of November 2019 when the matter was adjourned till 15 November 2019, the eve of the Bayelsa election.

Following a petition against Justice Inyang by Alaibe, alleging lack of confidence in her ability to ensure a fair trial of the matter, the case was adjourned indefinitely to enable the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, who had directed Justice Inyang to respond to the petition, conclude investigations into the petition.

The matter is yet to be heard since then. But supporters of the PDP governorship aspirant have remained confident that Alaibe’s case is a good one.

Source The Nation.