Follow Us on Google
From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
More than 100 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State have defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Angalabiri community, Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.
The defectors announced their decision on Saturday during a reception organised for the national leader of the NDC and its senatorial candidate for Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Dickson, who visited the community as part of his thank-you tour.
The development came on the heels of the defection of scores of APC members from Isampou and Ogrigbene communities, also in Ekeremor LGA, who earlier in the day declared their support for the NDC.
Welcoming the new entrants, the member representing Sagbama Constituency I in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Oyinke Godbless, said Angalabiri had resolved to align with the NDC and support its candidates across all elective positions in the 2027 elections.
“Angalabiri is an NDC community. The people have made their decision, and we are prepared to support the party and all its candidates, from the presidential election to the State House of Assembly,” he said.
Also speaking, a youth leader in the community, Hon. Patrick Titus, expressed appreciation to Dickson for visiting the community, saying the large turnout of women and youths at the reception demonstrated their support for the party.
“The youths and women of Angalabiri are happy to receive Senator Dickson. His visit means a lot to the community, and the large turnout here demonstrates the level of interest and support he enjoys among our people,” Titus said.
In his remarks, Dickson, a former two-term governor of Bayelsa State, thanked traditional leaders, political stakeholders, women and youths for their continued prayers and support.
He urged the people to work with community leaders to ensure peaceful and credible elections, warning against actions capable of creating tension or threatening the peace of the community.
The NDC leader also called on residents to participate actively in the electoral process, stressing the need to uphold the principle of one man, one vote.
He further urged them to reject electoral violence and malpractice, irrespective of those involved, and to contribute to creating a peaceful environment for the 2027 elections.
Furthermore, scores of APC members from Isampou and Ogrigbene communities had earlier visited Dickson at his country home in Toru-Orua, where they formally announced their defection to the NDC.
The defectors reportedly attributed their decision to the quality of representation they had enjoyed from the former governor at the National Assembly and his political accomplishments, particularly the establishment of the NDC.
They pledged to work for the success of the party and its candidates in the 2027 general elections.
