Some stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State including its youth leader, Nunieh Odede have dumped the party’s governorship candidate and state Governor, Douye Diri for his major opponent and flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva.

Odede in a handwritten letter on Monday announced his resignation from the PDP while some principal aides of the governor formally quit their offices to campaign for Sylva ahead of the November 11 election.

A statement signed on Monday by Sylva’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Julius Bokoru, confirmed that Odede met with the APC candidate.

Odede, in the meeting, said: “We have spent years with the PDP and we built the party to where it is. It is imperative we move on now in the light of what is happening in the state.

“Bayelsa is in a comatose state and we cannot keep doing the old things and expect to get it right. Our resignation from the PDP, honestly, is to save our dear state from further ruin.”

The statement quoted Sylva as applauding Odede and the other defectors for choosing the progress and development of the state over selfish gains.

Sylva said, “Youths are always the driving force of every society, youths also embody and give a trajectory of what the future would look like.

“Your decisions today are heroic and selfless, you have placed state over self and beyond even the elections you instill in us all that Bayelsa state is bound to do well.”

The statement listed the top aides that abandoned Diri for Sylva as Abiah Oyisor, Director, State Environmental Authority; Ayaye Obuma, Governor’s Representative, Yenegoa LGA; Itu Goodluck, Special Adviser, Special Duties to the Governor; Timipa Ile, Special Adviser, Special Duties to the Governor and Olali Suwofien, Special Adviser, Special Duties.

It stated that after their resignation from the PDP and endorsement of APC and Sylva, they would be received at a formal endorsement ceremony with thousands of their supporters.

It said the defections had eroded Diri’s chances of winning Yenagoa, the capital city, especially the Epie/Atissa kingdoms where Sylva was making huge gains.

The statement also confirmed that recently the deputy governorship candidate of the APC, Joshua Maciver, received thousands of defectors from Sagbama LGA and the home of the incumbent deputy governor of the state. (Daily Independent)

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