Ahead of the governorship election in Bayelsa State, no fewer than 1,000
members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state have defected
to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The defecting members, comprising 800 delegates at the APC governorship
primary election held on August 22 and August 29 declared for the PDP at a
ceremony which took place at Peace Park, Yenagoa, yesterday.
The defectors were led into the Peace Park venue by two prominent members
of the APC, Senator John Brambaifa and Mr. Alex Ekiotenne.
They were received at the venue by Governor Seriake Dickson; Deputy
National Chairman, PDP, South-South, Mr. Cairo Ojuigbo; Acting State
Chairman, PDP, Mr. Serena Dokubo-Spiff; Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rear
Admiral John Jonah (retd.), among other PDP leaders.
Addressing the defectors, Dickson commended Brambaifa and Ekiotenne for
returning to the PDP fold which they left about five months ago.
Dickson said, “We are happy that Brambaifa and Ekiotenne are back to the
PDP. They have been prominent strategists for the PDP. Our government,
Bayelsa PDP and Bayelsans are happy that we are now complete.
“While the storm lasted, I always remembered them for their patriotism
towards Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation. With them, our restoration crusade is
full and ready to sail. They led the foundation for the mass movements of
some PDP members to the APC.
“Today, it is operation ‘Wind up APC in Bayelsa. This is just the
beginning of winding up the APC in Bayelsa. We will continue to receive
our brothers and sisters who were misled.”
The governor, who urged the crowd to observe a minute’s silence for the
late former Governor of the state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, said since
Alamieyeseigha’s demise, was feeling a sense of emptiness.
He said: “But with these two persons, I am a bit consoled. If not for the
way they harassed and killed Alamieyeseigha, he would have been here with
us.”
In his remarks, Ekiotenne said with their return to the PDP, the APC in
Bayelsa was buried.