Osinbajo to Receive Alaibe, Ebebi, Porbeni, Others into APC in Bayelsa

All seems set for the defection of   principal political leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State   to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

Next Saturday, over 700 political leaders in the state will formally decamp to the APC and will be received into the party by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in an elaborate ceremony in Yenagoa, the state capital.

But the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, has hinted that he would formally declare his intention to contest the December 5 election on the platform of the PDP.

Prominent among the defecting leaders are the former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and ex-Special Adviser to the President, Chief Timi Alaibe; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, former Deputy Governor Perempbowei Ebebi. Admiral Festus Porbeni. Former acting Governors Nestor Binabo and Werinipre Seibarugu, are also leading the pack of defectors to the APC.

They are expected to be received by the state leader of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva and a federal government delegation led by   Osinbajo.

Other defectors include Senator John Brambaifa, Senator Clever Ikisipo, Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio, Chief Nathan Egba, former House of Representatives member, Dr. Stella Dorgu and former NDDC chairman, Prof. Tarila Tebepah.

In the defection, likened to a political tsunami, no fewer than 700 political heavyweights and over 5,000 followers are expected to dump the PDP for the APC.

According to Chief Alex Ekiotenne, a former Honorary Adviser to Governor  Dickson, it is expected that the mass movement of the people into the APC will signal the death knell of the PDP in the state.

Also, former House members – Christopher Enai, Warman Ogoriba, Bonus Indiamaowei, Nelson Belief, Nadu Karibo, former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Gideon Ekeowei and former Deputy Speaker, Fini Angaye, will APC ship Saturday.

Furthermore, Ekiotenne said names of former commissioners in the state such as Lionel Jonathan-Omo, Chief Alex Ekiotenne (himself), Charity Vedalago, Sylvanus Abila, Chief Abeke Ebikake, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, Godknows Powell, Capt. Matthew Karim (retd.), Chief Nathan Egba, Topido Amananagha, Ebitimi Amgbaye, Frank Oputu, are among the defectors.

He said the defectors also comprised Chief Hings Dumbo, Selebina Saboh, Prince Abeki, Mrs. Tonye Apreala, Miebi Biribina, and many former special advisers and governor representatives among others.

He said the defectors would be received also by National Chairman, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, five governors, Sylva and top stalwarts of the party including its state Chairman, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe.

He recalled that since the PDP conducted the last primary elections for the state and National Assembly polls in the state, the ruling party had been in disarray.

The development had polarised the party resulting in divisions, infighting,  suspensions, expulsions and defection of members of the party.

Also, efforts by former President Goodluck Jonathan, the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and critical stakeholders to resolve the crises in the PDP had yet to achieve the desired results.

Meanwhile, Dickson is expected to formally declare his intention to run for a second term, as governor of the state on August 28

A Government House statement signed by the Chief Press 
Secretary to the governor, Mr. Daniel Iwori-Markson said the declaration would be made at a grand rally in Yenagoa.

The statement “enjoined all Bayelsans, especially the teeming supporters of the Restoration government, across the state to come out in their numbers, as a mark of appreciation for the development strides of the administration.”

In a related development, a socio-political organisation, Ijaw Peoples Assembly, has called on the national leadership of the APC not to dissipate energy and resources on the December 5 governorship election in the state because the incumbent governor, will win the election.

A statement issued yesterday by the spokesperson of IPP, Tom Kombowei Davidson, said with the backing of prominent Ijaw leaders and key stakeholders who have unanimously endorsed the governor for a second term, the chances of the opposition were minimal.

According to him, having regard to his performance record in the last three years, Dickson deserved to be re-elected.

Davidson stated that a meeting of notable Ijaw leaders and key stakeholders will soon be convened in Yenagoa to unanimously endorse the candidacy of the governor for the December 5 election.

Osinbajo to Receive Alaibe, Ebebi, Porbeni, Others into APC in Bayelsa