The Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State has described those who defected to the All Progressives Congress in the state capital are a huge disappointment and embarrassment to the party and the Ijaw nation, having benefitted immensely from the party that made them who they are today.
PDP acting state chairman, Serena Dokubo-Spiff, in a signed statement issued in Yenagoa, said by their conduct, it has clearly shown that the defection is largely driven by greed and for personal agrandisement.
According to him, the defector are “yesterday’s men and women” who no longer have electoral value and as such the PDP will not miss them.
He noted that the defectors were also those politicians who sponsored candidates against the PDP in the last state house of assembly election and worked with the opposition to betray both Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP at the last presidential election.
He added that “these crop of politicians could not be regarded as dependable nor should they be celebrated by the APC as political assets, stressing that they were never at anytime with us.
“Suffice to say that no member of the PDP in the state or any of the party’s organ was part of this charade called a mega rally. The PDP in Bayelsa State is intact. All the structures and organs of the party at all levels are fully intact.
“Our great party is not perturbed in anyway. The so-called defectors were never with us because they are the same people who betrayed PDP at the presidential election and also sponsored candidates against our party in the state house of assembly election. These are spent forces and we are not moved by APC’s charade.
“For instance, the former PDP chairman, retired Col. Sam Inokoba, who was one of the defectors has since been suspended by our party on acts bothering on corruption and anti-party. Is that the kind of character the APC is celebrating and welcoming into its fold? It’s a sham, indeed”, he stated.
The party chairman berated the defectors as lacking in principle and as such they were more of liabilities to the APC than being assets, stressing that Bayelsans know their antecedents and that they won’t be taken seriously now or in the future for any possible effect on the December 5 governorship election.
“It is so unfortunate that the APC in Bayelsa has attracted into its fold a congregation of persons with well known track record of violence and political brigandage. As a party, we are worried that, if not well managed, they could truncate the prevailing peaceful.
Recalled that over 1,500 PDP leaders and members in Bayelsa State had at a mega rally held inside the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, dumped the PDP for APC at a rally attended by the National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun.
The group of defectors were led by the embattled state chairman, Col Sam Inokoba (rtd) and the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Timi Alaibe.
Others who dumped the PDP include the immediate past Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Heneiken Lokpobiri, former Acting Governors Nestor Binabo and Werinipre Seibarugu, Senator John Brambaifa, Senator Clever Ikisipo, former House of Representatives member, Dr. Stella Dorgu, former NDDC
chairman, Prof. Tarila Tebepah, the former Reps members – Christopher Enai.
Also present were former house of representatives members Warman Ogoriba, Bonus Indiamaowei, Nelson Belief, Nadu Karibo, former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Gideon Ekeowe, Dr. Imoru Kubo, Capt Matthew Karimu among others.
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