2019 Bayelsa Guber Poll: PDP Bigwig Joins APC
BY UBON EKANEM – The crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa has taken a new turn with one of the party’s bigwig, Senator Nimi Amange, jumping ship over allegations of highhandedness and abuse of powers by Governor Seriake Dickson.
An aggrieved Amange, who represented Bayelsa East Senatorial district in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2011, said his decision to join All Progressives Congress (APC) is informed by the overbearing attitude of the Governor in arrogating to himself the sole-proprietorship of Bayelsa PDP.
In a letter to the PDP Ward II Chairman in Nembe Local Government of the State, the former lawmaker said having seen the handwriting on the wall, there is an urgent need to join other well-meaning Bayelsans to rescue the State from Governor Dickson’s suffocating clutches
He however admitted that wary of being caught unawares by the countryman governor’s political antics, his support for APC came even before the 2019 elections, fully backing the party to win the senatorial and the House of Representatives seats.
“When I was in PDP, we were enslaved by only one man, who regarded himself as emperor. There were no political activities, even if you want to be a councillor. The 105 councillors were nominated by him. The eight chairmen were all nominated by him. I cannot be part of that.
“I was one of the founding fathers of PDP in Bayelsa State. I did not join the PDP; I was part of the formation in August 1998, and I have been there since. But I have never seen this kind of authoritarian rule.
“So, I have decided to pitch my tent with a party that can uproot PDP from the ground so that Bayelsans will be freed. I promise you Bayelsans will be freed come November 16.
Explaining the current trends in Bayelsa politics, Senator Amange, said; “Today, I can tell you that the APC candidate, David Lyon, comes from Southern Ijaw council; that is the council with the highest voting strength. Definitely, that council is for APC. I come from Nembe and by joining APC, Nembe has fallen into the hands of APC.”
According to him, “Brass is where Timipre Sylva comes from and Brass normally is for APC. Those three councils are gone and we can give Kolokuma/Opokuma, the smallest council, to PDP because their candidate is from there.”
In a veiled reference to the contentious choice of a running mate foisted on PDP by the governor, the former lawmaker said; “Sagbama, where the present governor comes from, will be donated to him because his running mate is from there. Where the governor comes from is where he picked his party’s deputy governorship candidate from.”
To further support his reasons for imputing selfishness and injustice to Governor Dickson’s actions within the PDP and his Restoration political family, Amange said; “The question is: what will other councils do? We can still donate that to him. We are taking three, they are taking two. The remaining councils are 50/50”
With Amange dumping PDP to join the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), tongues are wagging that the feared exodus may now hit the umbrella party ahead of the November 18 governorship elections in the State.
