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The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state has expressed optimism that its members who defected to other parties would return after the party is declared the winner of the November 11 governorship election.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Doifie Buokoribo stated this while reacting to the purported defection of Chief Dikivie Ikiogha from APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ikiogha defected to the PDP amid criticisms of the APC by the ruling PDP in the state.
Buokoribo in a statement noted that Ikiogha’s defection to the PDP is of no relevance, and added that he had long left the APC for the Labour Party, where he contested and lost the governorship primary of the party before running to the PDP.
Buokoribo stated that Ikiogha was trying to use the name of APC to score cheap political point as he is not their member because he (Ikiogha) has not revalidated his membership with APC.
He said, “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State chapter, has been drawn to reports of the defection of a certain Mr. Dikivie Ikiogha allegedly from our party to another party.
“The APC has no issues with anyone who wishes to pursue their interest on any political platform they so desire. It is within their democratic and constitutional rights. We, however, have problems with people using the name of our party to promote their narrow, selfish and dubious interests. “At the time of his defection, the said Ikiogha was not a member of our party. Consequently, it is false, misleading and unacceptable to drag the APC into the matter of his returning to his former party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Ikiogha left our party in the thick of the period the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed for the governorship primaries of various political parties. He joined the Labour Party, bought the form for the primaries, and contested the primary election. After he failed, he never returned to the APC to revalidate his membership. Our records paint a different picture to the one he is trying to use to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.
“The APC notes that in a season of election, a lot of politicians suffer severe ethical deficits. They move from party to party. “We will therefore not be surprised if those who claim to have defected from our party return when we win the November 11, 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election.”
