Ahead of November 11 Bayelsa governorship election, about fifty thousands members, as well as aides to governor Douye Diri and members of other political parties have decamped to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The decampees were received at the party secretariat in Yenagua by the party’s National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje who was represented by the Deputy National Chairman, North, Ali Delore.
Some of the decampees are members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), among others.
Among those that defected were two former Commissioners, Chief Saviour Ibegu (from Ogbia Local Government Area) and Chief Diodei Week ( from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
Also, three former local government chairman, Victor Isiah (Brass), Natheniel Sylva (Brass) and Ebinyu Turner ( Ogbia).
Nathaniel Sylva who was a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Douye Diri said he decided to leave the PDP to team up with the APC governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva to rescue the state.
Isaiah noted that the reasons for leaving PDP explained that the APC and its governorship candidate, Sylva have the requisite experience and support of people at the grassroot to become the next governor of Bayelsa state.
On his part, Ibegu stressed that the Ogbia people have benefited from the leadership of Sylva with the appointment of their son, Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), saying it was time to reciprocate his love for Ogbia people by voting for him.
Ogbuku in his speech declared that Ogbia people are grateful people and have decided to pay back the love Sylva has for Ogbia Kingdom by voting massively for him.
Receiving the decampees, the APC governorship candidate said the decampees will be fully integrated into the APC fold.
Sylva urged the new members to go out and work for the success of the APC in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election in the state.
The former governor said some of the decampees numbering about 50,00 were special advisers to Diri.
Sylva said: “No stone will be left unturned to ensure victory at the November poll,
“No amount of intimidation and desperation by the PDP government in the state can stop the APC from winning the governorship election.”
Also speaking, Gome state governor and the Chairman, Bayelsa state National Governorship Campaign Council, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, urged the decampees to ensure that APC takes over state in the coming election so as to connect Bayelsa to the centre.
He also urged both the new and old members to take the message of hope and development to the nook and crannies of the state in order to drum up support for the party’s gubernatorial candidate.