The chances of Governor Seriake Dickson winning the December 5 governorship poll became brighter at the weekend in Yenagoa as over 2,000 members of the leading opposition party, All Progressives Congress, (APC) led by Senator John Brambaifa and Chief Alex Ekiotene made their way back to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
The returnees defied a heavy downpour, as they thronged the venue of the event, Peace Park, Yenagoa to show their solidarity and support, describing the APC as a party of impostors.
The group, known as Forum of Authentic APC Delegates, said members were hoodwinked to join the APC, but later discovered that they had taken a wrong decision, especially with what transpired during the conduct of the party’s governorship primaries held at the mainbowl of Samson Siasia Sports Complex.
Members of the group are staunch supporters of one of the governorship aspirants of the party, Mr. Timi Alaibe, who was later persuaded to step down for the former governor and now the governorship aspirant of the party, Chief Timipre Sylva.
In a welcome address presented by its Chairman, Amos Iduotu Soko said the choice of Sylva as the governorship candidate of APC could be best described as the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
Describing the APC primaries, which led to the emergence of Sylva, as a charade, he said “what was supposed to be a peaceful, credible, free and fair party primary was turned into a bloodbath”
The address reads: ‘Governor Adams Oshiomole true to type, rejected the charade and sham that was styled as a party primary and so the first exercise was nullified. For the second and last exercise, which took place on the 29th of August, 2015, the leading aspirant, Chief Timi Alaibe was asked by the authorities from above to step down for their anointed candidate.
“It was indeed a sad and sorrowful day for the over 2,000 delegates, who had signed up to pick Timi Alaibe as the candidate of the APC. Since that day it has been mourning all the way as if the creator of Bayelsa state died that day.
“We must salute the wisdom of Alaibe for refusing to be part of a possible blood bath in the second exercise had he instructed us to proceed to the venue and as he said finally while addressing the mammoth crowd of delegates at Opokuma and I quote, ‘my children are not here, so why should I be part of a process that will inexorably lead to the loss of lives of young Bayelsans.
Following the unacceptable travesty of internal democracy and in view of the fact that the so called winner see every other person as conquered people, the Forum of Authentic APC delegates has decided to support Governor Dickson in the next election.
In his address, Senator John Brambaifa said that “this is home coming for where everybody will be proud”, noting that there is no doubt that victory will be achieved on December 5.
“I have come here to endorse Governor Seriake Dickson as the governor of Bayelsa State come 2016. I stand here to say without any doubt that I, Senator J.K. Brambaifa, support that decision.’
Receiving the returnees, the national vice-chairman, South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Cairo Ojoughoh, directed that they should be re-admitted and revert to their former positions, adding that this must be backed up with necessary documentation.
Describing the PDP as the only party with democratic values, Ojougboh said the party is not ready to concede defeat to any party as the South-South remains the home base of the PDP.
Calling on the Judiciary and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to always be fair in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities, he said it was on record that the two bodies performed creditably well under the PDP leadership at the national level.
“What is being adjudged as free and fair election worldwide today took place under the leadership of the PDP”.
Also, the Acting state chairman of the party, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, assured the returnees of the cooperation of the leadership of the party, adding that, the needful would be done to re-integrate them into the fold.
According to him, no matter the level of dissenting voices and differences the unity of the Ijaw nation could never be destroyed.
Speaking in the same vein, the Director-General of the Restoration Campaign Organisation, Hon Fred Agbedi, said the return of all those who left the party has just begun, describing the decision of Senator Brambaifa and others as the best.
Elated with joy, Governor Seriake Dickson, who defied the downpour by dancing round the venue, said the action of the former APC members has sounded the death knell of the APC in Bayelsa State, adding that, some of them were key leaders, who led the mass movement to the opposition party.
Acknowledging the contributions of the returnees, while they were in the PDP, Dickson said their coming back would go a long way in filling the vacuum created by the demise of the first civilian governor of the state, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha.
He said the returnees were not just delegates, but were officers of the APC in their various wards and local government areas, stating that, the party failed to comply with the rules and guidelines of INEC by conducting ward delegates election.
