Bayelsa PDP forecloses further defections, restates allegiance

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has refuted insinuations that more of its members were on their way to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

A socio-political movement, Bayelsa Great House, was reported to have said at the weekend that the former state chairman of the party, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), who recently defected to the APC, was wooing other powerful stalwarts of the ruling party.

But in a statement, the State Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Keku Godspower, said the claim was false, saying the party was solidly behind Governor Seriake Dickson and his re-election bid.

He dismissed Inokoba’s ability to sway such exodus, noting that the earlier mass movement was borne out of selfishness and indiscipline.

“We wish to state categorically that contrary to a newspaper report, no member of the Bayelsa State Working Committee or the purported non-working committee and the generality of our members across the state were considering leaving the party. We want to make it abundantly clear that contrary to the propaganda, all the organs of the party at all levels are intact and are fully behind the re-election of Governor Dickson. Inokoba and his phantom Bayelsa Great House are political charlatans who will be disgraced in due time,” Godspower stated.

He berated the retired military officer for “arrogating to himself political powers and influence which he did not possess,” noting that Inokoba cannot win his ward and as such leaving the PDP was good riddance.

“All the while he held sway as chairman, members of our party were always complaining of his poor leadership style. We were merely managing him until he was fingered in corruption and anti-party activities. We always knew that he was a mole for the opposition and therefore, we were, not surprised he acted the way he did. His leaving the party has no effect whatsoever as time will soon tell. Instead it is a blessing,” Godspower stressed.