The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa state, Colonel Sam Inokoba (rtd.), the former director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, and over 1,100 party leaders on Saturday, August 15, left the PDP for the APC.
Speaking at a political rally at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Mr Inokoba explained why they decided to cross over to the APC.
He said the PDP-led state government has derailed from its original objectives. They reportedly were disenchanted with the leadership style of Governor Seriake Dickson who has allegedly abandoned the tenets of good goverces.
He also mentioned that PDP was bedeviled by endless intra-party squabbles and manipulations by the PDP governor.
He and his followers from 105 wards in the state who joined the APC urged the Bayelsa people to shun their qualms and embrace change.
Timi Alaibe, however, said he joined the APC not for the sake of change but to steer the state from poverty to prosperity.
He stated that a state as endowed as Bayelsa had no business with poverty. Mr. Alaibe regretted that the state had not benefitted from its natural endowments and pledged to work to install an APC government.
During the ceremony of receiving APC's new members, brooms were handed over to Mr. Inokoba, Mr. Alaibe, Heineken Lokpobiri, Jonathan Omu, Nestor Binabo, Gideon Okiwe, Major Andrew Oputa (rtd.), and Charity Bolaragbo, amongst others.