By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
Seriake Dickson: He represents Bayelsa West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and he’s the arrow head of those opposed to the second tenure bid of the governor. It was reliably learnt that Dickson was chosen to lead the Sylva-must-go project because of his doggedness in pursuing a course he believes in.

The fact that his Bayelsa West senatorial district is yet to produce a governor of the state may work in his favour. Dickson, who is serving his second term in the House of Representatives, was a Commissioner for Justice during Jonathan’s time as governor between 2005 and 2007 and is believed to have the ears of Mr. President.

The Restoration Group, through its spokesman, Surveyor Furoebi Sheba Akene, alleged that Gov Sylva had not only stalled the development of the state since assuming office but also heightened insecurity in the state.

But it is doubtful, if he has the resources to embark on a robust and aggressive campaign that would traverse the vast mangrove creek of the state without external backing – might we add, from the presidency.

Bolobou Orufa: Apart from his being the former Chairman of Yenagoa local government area, this Gbarain born politician reportedly played a major role in helping to boost the revenue that accrues to the council from the federation account. He is also said to have the ears of the wife of the President – do you see a clash of interests there?

Christopher Enai: He was a pioneer member of the state house of assembly and later went on to represent Bayelsa West federal constituency in the House of Representatives. His period at the National Assembly, according to analysts, was uneventful as he did not attract any meaningful federal project to his constituency.

Kalango Youpele is from the Bayelsa East senatorial district like the incumbent governor. Kalango, a former member of the National Assembly representing the Brass-Nembe federal constituency is more popular in the sports arena, being a great golf player.

Chief Francis Amaebi until now was known as Chief Francis Doukpolagha. He was born on the 9th of May 1944 in the riverside Agbere community in Sagbama L.G.A. of Bayelsa State. As his nature depicts, he is from a humble background.

He is believed to have won the 1999 governorship poll in which Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was declared winner by INEC, a development that resulted in one of the longest legal tussles in the history of contested polls in the country.

He was however wooed over to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by Alamieyeseigha after his failed attempt to reclaim his supposedly stolen mandate and had remained a loyal party member since then.

Though he came third in the 2007 governorship primaries which was convincingly won by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan with Chief Timipre Sylva coming second but Dr. Jonathan was favourably disposed to ceding the PDP ticket to the Agbere born technocrat.

Ekiyegha Francis Korobido hails from the Bayelsa West senatorial district like Seriake Dickson and Chief Francis Amaebi. Bayelsa west remains the only zone yet to produce the governor of the state. He was born in October 24, 1960 and has been a consistent aspirant for the state governorship poll on the platform of the PDP. At a point he was rumoured as the unsung choice of President Jonathan to succeed the incumbent governor of the state.

Austin Febo, an indigene of Opokuma in the Kolokuma-Opokuma local government area in the Bayelsa central senatorial district could best be described as a neophyte in the politics of the state. He was a former commissioner for Lands and Housing in the state in the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and it was during his tenure that the state government embarked on the ambitious Okaka housing estate and he took the project to appreciable level before he was relieved of his appointment when the Timipre Sylva administration came on board.