Bayelsa Guber Race: Ebebi, Others Dump PDP, Swell APC’s Ranks

BY UBON EKANEM – Despite reported political turbulent within its fold, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa state chapter has made another big catch with former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Ebebi Peremobowei, joining the party ahead of November 16 governorship poll.

Ebebi joins the ranks of PDP top notch politicians and appointees of the Seriake Dickson-led administration that have left their jobs to swell the ranks of APC and engineer ongoing re-alignment of forces in the State.

Ebebi, who is a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one-time Speaker of the State House of Assembly, resigned from the party in his letter dated October 11, 2019.

The resignation letter was addressed to the Party’s Chairman in Ward 3 Alaebiri, Ekeremor Local Government and his dumping the PDP now is seen by party stakeholders as a big blow to the party.

Insiders said the worries among PDP’s supporters are centred on the fact Ebebi’s decision to quit the Party is coming at a time his name made the gubernatorial Campaign Council’s list as Coordinator of the Bayelsa West Senatorial district.

Ebebi said his decision to leave PDP is based on ugly experiences and excruciating pains of a largely fraudulent internal democracy in the state chapter of the party.

“I have come to this hard decision after experiencing an enduring and excruciating period of a largely fraudulent internal democracy in the state chapter of the PDP, disregard and disrespect for due process as entrenched in the PDP constitution and electoral guidelines, high-handedness and desperation of the party’s leadership.

“The fact that my membership of the party is ending does not diminish the great political experience I have enjoyed. It has been absolutely outstanding”, he said

The ex-PDP chieftain’s letter further stated thus: “I am thankful for the opportunity given me to serve the state in various capacities, especially as a two-time Speaker of the House of Assembly and two-time Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, which offered me outstanding political career development and enabled me to gain irreplaceable experience in politics.”

Already, the list of those currently dumping the PDP is growing and includes Bayelsa State’s Director, Ethics and Compliance, Due Process Bureau, Benjamin Ogbara; and Dickson’s Special Adviser on Culture, Chief Natus Zebakame, who tendered their resignation letters last Thursday.

Others are Special Adviser on Agriculture, Godspower Ake; Commissioner 1 in the Bayelsa State Local Government Service Commission, Berry Negerese; Special Assistant on Student Affairs, Iniruo Ipogi; and Special Adviser on ICT Development, Clever Ebede.

In his letter, Zebakame thanked the governor for giving him the privilege to serve the government and people of the state, saying; “This is, therefore, a formal notification to the government and the people of Bayelsa State as the decision to resign my appointment is entirely personal”.

On his part, Benjamin Ogbara said the decision to resign to enable him return to his private legal practice, even as he thanked the governor, who found him worthy of the appointment and expressed his best wishes to the people of the state.

Tongues are already wagging that Ebechi’s defection has taken many stakeholders by surprise given that the Countryman governor, Seriake Dickson was recently seen in a warm embrace with the former PDP chieftain, who had dismissed initial rumours of his defection as untrue.