Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan and political associates of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, have reportedly turned their backs on Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson.

The Jonathans, had prior to now, been in support of the re-election of Dickson, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Vanguard however, reports that they have dumped Dickson and have started by mobilizing support  for Timipre Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the rescheduled January 9 poll.

In the initial election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, on December 5 last year, Dickson won in 6 local government areas while Sylva won just one LGA.

However, elections in the decisive Southern Ijaw local government were cancelled as a result of several electoral irregularities.

Despite the fact that Dickson is leading with over 33,000 votes, the report states that Patience Jonathan had brokered a peace meeting between Sylva and  a former militant leader, Ateke Tom.

The supposed meeting was held discreetly on New Year’s day in Tom Ateke’s home in Port Harcourt.

Mrs Jonathan was alleged to have implored on the former militant leader to “come to Southern Ijaw and help Sylva” win the rescheduled election.

Apart from Patience Jonathan, several key political associates of Jonathan, are said to have indicated their readiness to work against Governor Dickson ahead of the January 9 election.