Bayelsa State -Bayelsa State Experience Major Political Defections Ahead of Governorship Elections
In a significant political development, two prominent figures in Bayelsa State’s political landscape, Mr. Doubara Benjamin, a serving Special Assistant to Governor Douye Diri, and Apostle Bodmas Prince Kemepadei, a grassroots mobilizer and social media influencer, have formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Their high-profile defection was part of a larger wave of political realignment within the state.
Accompanied by a host of other defectors, including Mr. Diepriye Apelebiri, the chairman of Labour Party, LP, Sagbama Ward 11, this momentous event took place at a rally named ‘Sagbama Wake Up!’. The rally was organized by the former National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, and was expertly coordinated by Mr. Francis Kolokolo, the Deputy Chairman of the APC in Sagbama Local Government Area.
Additional notable defectors and their supporters who joined this burgeoning political movement included Gideon Ogufe, a retired Assistant Police Commissioner (ACP); former Youth President from Okumbiri, Akposeye Odoni; activist Oweifabo Felix Ebikeme; former State Chairman of the Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Dime Jonah; and the Youth President of Agorogbene Community, Goodluck Dime.
The rally, which attracted APC leaders, members, and support groups from Sagbama and neighboring Ekeremor, brought Sagbama town to a standstill over the weekend.
The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the APC, Joshua Maciver, received the defectors with warm applause during the rally. He commended their courage in taking the bold step to join the APC, emphasizing the significance of their decision.
MacIver also took the opportunity to remind the people of Sagbama about their influential role in Governor Diri’s ascension to power, citing that it was a Sagbama native, Senator Seriake Dickson, who paved the way for Diri’s governorship. However, he alleged that Governor Diri had not fulfilled his promises to the people of Sagbama.
In his address, MacIver stated, “When we were coming to this rally, we did not know we were coming to receive defectors. We thought we were coming to thank the people and canvass for their votes. But when we got here, we saw many opposition members dumping their parties for the APC. It goes without saying that APC is a party to beat in Bayelsa.”
“In Bayelsa State, two months to the election, you already know who is winning the election. Let us not deceive ourselves; this one is already clear that the APC has already won the election.”
MacIver went on to express confidence in the APC’s electoral prospects across several local government areas in the state, including Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw, and Ekeremor, while encouraging the people of Sagbama to turn out en masse to vote in the upcoming elections, as victory for the APC appeared imminent.
The political landscape in Bayelsa State is witnessing a dramatic shift as key figures align themselves with the APC, setting the stage for a highly anticipated election in November 2023.
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