Indications are that between now and next year when gubernatorial poll will take place in Bayelsa State, much is bound to happen. The Peoples Democratic Party’s loss at the last general elections and festering interpersonal frictions with key personalities in the state may have truncated Governor Seriake Henry Dickson’s lone-star run. What remains to be known now is the likely dark horse that would be the beneficiary of what many critics perceive as the governor’s excesses.

The governor, thrown up for the office courtesy of the benevolence of the immediate past first family of the country, has, over the years, jettisoned the very ideals that stood him out for the job.

What exactly is Dickson being accused of? The governor  appears to have stepped on so many toes. First was a fight with the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and her godson, Waripomowei Dudufa, a presidential aide under Jonathan’s administration.

In a related development, the Bayelsa chapter of PDP, apparently prompted by the governor, expelled nine of its members from the party over alleged anti-party activities in the last general elections.

The affected members are Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, Mr. Nestor Binabo, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa and Mr. Chamberlain Kren Ikidi.

Others are, Mr. Osomkime Blankson, Mr. Emmanuel Okponipre, Mr. Ebikapade Dibiya and Joyce Fouyowei. Others are retired Colonel Sam Inokoba, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, while Fiebai Gbeinbo was suspended for three months. Mr. Leghemo Kaiser and Mr. Denyabofa Dimaro were to render apology to the leadership of the PDP, while Dr. Godson Omubo-Dede and Mr. Dan Omubo-Dede were reprimanded.

The development was largely seen by PDP members as an affront to former President, Goodluck Jonathan as most of the affected party members are his associates.

The governor too has made enemies across the Niger Delta.

Till date, questions are still being asked as to the reasonableness in Dickson constituting a committee to review projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission in the state.

Other reasons abound why elders and stakeholders in the politics of the state now hold that Dickson’s time is up.

According to several Bayelsans, Dickson’s many ‘sins’ include covert moves against Jonathan’s re-election by reaching out to the APC and ex-Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on all issues regarding the last general elections.

Then there is the allegation of abandonment leveled against Dickson by people of the state who prefer that he sits back in Yenagoa to walk his talk. Only recently, the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) raised objection to the frequent trips of the governor outside the state.

Stakeholders in Bayelsa PDP and other actively involved in the affairs of the state argue that a major upset awaits Dickson in the countdown to the governorship poll in the state. The state PDP might not be interested in fielding him. The governor may become a hard sale if the opposition party in Bayelsa adopts him as their flag bearer for the 2016 election.  With the way things are playing out, it is quite possible that a dark horse might as well clinch the state PDP governorship ticket. If that happens, it should not surprise the incumbent who also got into office as a dark horse, but favoured by Jonathan and his wife. History may repeat itself.

Iyobosa Jackson is resident in Abuja.