Prominent Bayelsa PDP Leaders Deny Defection To APC

DEFECTIONThe political intrigues in Bayelsa State just got more interesting as some prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, who were rumoured to have concluded plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress, have denied the claim, saying it is baseless as they neither showed willingness nor were they consulted to cross-carpet to another party.
A PDP chieftain in the state, Alex Ekiotene, had recently bandied a list containing the names of prominent members of the party, including the former Managing Director of the NNDC, Timi Alaibe, former deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, among others, who he said were going to formally declare for the APC on Saturday.
But the former deputy governor, Mr. Ebebi, and former Minister of Transport, Festus Porbeni, and a host of others denied their involvement in the proposed defection in separate statements on Tuesday.
While demanding apologies from the “ring leaders” of the defection plan, the PDP leaders also unanimously condemned the listing of their names on the list of defectors.
Mr. Porbeni in a statement said that “it is an insult for anyone to associate him with the APC”, adding that he was “never consulted and as a matter of principle not ready or disposed to leaving the PDP”.
He also cautioned the APC against dragging his name into its political marketing under whatever guise.
“It was a rude shock to hear and actually see my name as one of those slated for defection to the APC on Saturday but the truth is that it is a false claim. I was neither consulted nor am I convinced to change party ahead of the election. The reason so far adduced is not convincing beyond the personal interest”, he stated.
On his part, Mr. Ebebi stated that he remained a committed member of the PDP and would work hard to ensure the party emerges victorious in the December 5 governorship election.
According to him, any decision to change party should be predicated on “some substantive and noble values and in convincing consultation”, noting that “the opposition party was not and could never be a better alternative in the state for now”.