Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s political ally, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, has formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa.

It would be recalled that legislators from Jonathan’s state and federal constituencies had earlier left the PDP for APC.

Ikiogha, who was a founding member of the PDP, embraced the APC at an elaborate ceremony held on Saturday at Kpansia open field, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, with many PDP faithful.

Also, members of other political parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance and scores of his supporters left with him for the APC.

Some members of the PDP that defected with him are Chief Victor Awala, Mr. Paul Ajuwa, Mrs. D. Irene, Mr. Prince Abeki, a former commissioner, as well as over 150 former councillors from 1999 to 2012.

Besides, no fewer than 43 non-governmental organisations under the auspices of New Bayelsa Initiative also filed out with Ikiogha, described as great grassroots mobiliser.

Ikiogha, a former Bayelsa State Chief of Staff, said to be a trusted and dependable ally of Governor Seriake Dickson, was one of the brains behind the emergence of Dickson as governor in 2012.

But indications of frosty relationship between Dickson and Ikiogha emerged when Dickson removed him in controversial circumstances as Chief of Staff, Government House, Yenagoa and redeployed him to Abuja liaison office.

The development was seen by his loyalists, who claimed the redeployment carried heavy political undertones and that it was aimed at easing him out of the mainstream politics of Bayelsa State.

Ikiogha had resigned his appointment in October 2014 to contest the House of Representatives seat for Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma on the platform of the PDP but could not secure the ticket.

Addressing his loyalists that came to witness his formal movement to APC, Ikiogha said he decided to quit the PDP because it is party full of betrayals and deceits.

“The PDP is full of betrayals and deceits. There is lack of internal democracy and it is a party where the highest bidder always has his ways.

“As I left the PDP, I went on my private business until I started receiving calls from my supporters and those who believe in me that I could not quit partisan politics. It was then Idiscovered that I had a family in the APC. I also know that Bayelsa people are yearning for change which the APC represents.

“All those denied opportunities in the PDP are defecting to the APC with me. They are many of them and the solidarity cuts across other political parties including the APGA, Accord Party, Labour Party, among others,” he said.

The National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, who was represented by the National Vice-Chairman, South-South, Mr. Hilliard Eta, presided over the reception as he handed a broom, which is the symbol of the APC, to Ikiogha.

Odigie-Oyegun noted that the Dickson-led government of Bayelsa State had received over “N440bn from the Federal Government with nothing to show for it,” adding that what was left for Bayelsans was “to retire Governor Seriake Dickson.”

He, however, declared that the occasion was not meant to give Ikiogha a governorship ticket to contest the forthcoming Bayelsa State Governorship election but to formally receive him into the party.

He added that the process of electing a governorship flag bearer for the party would be conducted in a transparent primary election just like the process that produced Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate was done.

While receiving Chief Ikiogha and other defectors from other parties to the APC in state, the state chairman of the APC, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, said the journey to change Dickson, whom he accused of none performance, had just begun.

He said the APC would use the broom to change incompetence that had bedeviled the oil-rich state for so long.

He reiterated that the occasion should not be misconstrued as giving a governorship ticket to Ikiogha, stating that “APC is a law-abiding party”.

He noted that the doors of APC were open to all politicians who felt that they could actualize their political dreams through the party.

Speculations are rife that Ikiogha, a former Commissioner for Agriculture, would soon formally declare his intention to contest for the seat of power of Bayelsa State during the forthcoming governorship election.

Different political pressure groups and associations graced the occasion to show their support and solidarity to the Epie/Attisa-born politician.

•Photo shows Ikiogha.

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