President Muhammadu Buhari will be visiting Bayelsa state for the first time, since he came into power, to receive politicians defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party into the All Progressives Congress.
Buhari will personally welcome over 10,000 politicians jumping ship ahead of the December 5 governorship election in the state.
Buhari will be joining the state party leader and former governor, Timipre Sylva, and the chairman of the state working committee of the party, Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe to welcome the defectors, which include the former managing director, Niger Delta Development Commission and ex-presidential special adviser, Timi Alaibe; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Admiral Festus Porbeni;and former acting governors Nestor Binabo and Werinipre Seibarugu.
Others include Senator John Brambaifa, Senator Clever Ikisipo, Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio, Chief Nathan Egba, Dr. Silva Opuala-Charles, former House of Representatives member, Dr. Stella Dorgu and former NDDC Chairman, Prof. Tarila Tebepah.
Reacting to the defections on behalf of the Bayelsa state government, the deputy chief of staff, Government House, Mrs. Ebizi Brown, opined that the ongoing defections would not affect the chances of the PDP in the election.
She said: “On the defection of members from the PDP, I want to say that their defections won’t make any impact. The PDP is waxing stronger by the day despite their exit.
“Many of those who have become media tigers, were those who have been tested and failed. We are not perturbed by their antics as they are not forces to reckon with. When they were given opportunities to serve, they failed. Bayelsans at the grassroots know them. They also know that PDP is their party and it cares for them.”
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa state chapter of the PDP has raised an alarm over what the party describes as ”a plot by the APC to rig the upcoming election in the state.”
