Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A 43-year-old entrepreneur, Mr Richard Akinaka, has emerged as the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections. The businessman was announced as the sole candidate at the senatorial district headquarters collation centre at St Peter's Primary School, Yenagoa, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Mr Bidi Weris, the PDP Vice Chairman for the senatorial district and Returning Officer, declared him winner after the primary was conducted across the district's wards.
In a forceful post-victory speech, Akinaka did not mince words, blaming "stagnation, underrepresentation and poor representation" for the district's plight. "Our people have long yearned for a steady hope and progress over the years. That era is over now," he told party faithful. Positioning his nomination as "a sacred trust", he vowed: "What we are doing isn't for ourselves… this project is for the people, it's for Bayelsa, it's for Bayelsa Central." The victory came after he successfully passed the party's screening process days earlier. On May 14, 2026, he described the vetting by the PDP as "transparent and thorough", adding: "This experience has been enlightening and compelling."
The entrepreneur had formally declared his ambition earlier in May, criticising what he called "a persistent leadership deficit affecting grassroots communities". While submitting his nomination forms at the state party secretariat in Yenagoa on May 9, he linked his candidacy directly to personal experience. "As one who has experienced the life of our people living in rural communities, I see myself as an embodiment of the collective aspirations of our people," Akinaka said. He also robustly dismissed age as a barrier to leadership, insisting: "I am 43 years old, and I have the capacity to run for this position. Age is not an indication of performance; it is just a number."
Bayelsa Central Senatorial District comprises Yenagoa, the state capital, as well as Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw local government areas, and has witnessed a revolving door of representatives. Senator Emmanuel Paulker held the seat from 2007 to 2019, followed by Senator Moses Cleopas until 2023, and then Senator Konbowei Benson, who is now seeking a return ticket under the APC. The PDP's decision to nominate a relatively youthful entrepreneur signals a possible shift away from the political dynasties that have long dominated Bayelsa politics. Akinaka had, weeks before the primary, called on the party to field candidates of "proven character", insisting that "there is a deep yearning for responsible leadership at all levels".
Although the primary produced a sole candidate, the broader political climate in the state remains volatile. On the same day Akinaka emerged as the PDP candidate, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa was dealing with a high‑profile defection: a former PDP governorship aspirant, Reuben Okoya, left the party to join the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The APC is also fielding candidates in the district, though its internal processes have been complicated by defections and legal challenges. This fluidity suggests that Akinaka's real contest may not be a primary, but a complex general election battle against multiple rivals in a fragmented field. Nonetheless, the PDP remains the dominant party in Bayelsa, and Akinaka's nomination gives him a strong foundation upon which to build.
Speaking to supporters after the announcement, Akinaka struck a cautious but confident tone: "We'll work as a serious party and become victorious come the general elections." For a district that has repeatedly sent older career politicians to the Senate, his message of generational change could resonate strongly.
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