YENAGOA – THE competition for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial ticket became keener, yesterday, following the return of erstwhile Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, to the party. Alaibe, who had decamped to Labour Party, LP, ahead of the botched April, 2011 gubernatorial election, Vanguard learnt, has sought a waiver to enable him contest the PDP primaries slated for November 19.

Governor Timipre Sylva, who had until recently been seen as a shoo-in for PDP, was yesterday intensifying his efforts to strengthen his position in the party in Abuja. His efforts to curtail the influence of returning members were, yesterday, said not to be making much headway.

After a brief meeting with members of the National Working Committee, NWC, at the national secretariat, yesterday, Governor Sylva stormed out after members reportedly gave their indication to consider the application for waiver submitted by Mr. Alaibe.

Beside Aliabe, other estranged returnees are the erstwhile deputy governor of the state, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi; the former Government House Transport Officer and relation of former governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Abel Ebifemowei; and the immediate past state chairman of the party, Mr. Rufus Abadi.

Last week, a member of the House of Representatives and long time political foe of Governor Sylva, Mr. Henry Dickson, pledged his readiness to contest the gubernatorial primaries.