From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Peter Akpe, on Tuesday tasked new entrants in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to deliver the party’s candidates from the presidency to the ward level in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
Dr. Akpe, gave the charge in his office at Government House, Yenagoa, while receiving more defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC.
The calibre of persons leading the pack of the defectors were, former Secretary of the state chapter of the PDP, Deacon James Agari, a Technical Adviser to Governor Douye Diri on Special Duties and one time Legal Adviser to the PDP, Mr Richard Perekeme, a serving Councillor representing Ward Six
in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
The Bayelsa deputy governor expressed delight over their gesture, describing it as genuine solidarity with the Prosperity Government and the ruling party in consolidating the peace, development and progress of the state.
According to Dr. Akpe, contrary to what is being alleged in some quarters, the pattern of the Governor Douye Diri-led administration is against the application of tactics such as coercion or financial inducements to compel opponents in joining the state’s APC.
His words: “As I said the other day, His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri does not believe in the use of coercion or financial inducement to compel political opponents to join the APC, contrary to what is being alleged in some quarters, especially in the social media.
“The governor gives you time to think about it. We accept decamped members wholeheartedly and intrinsically without having to cajole them.
“And so, I join the party’s leadership to welcome you with great delight. I want to appreciate you for your gesture which is the right move. In Sagbama Local Government Area, we are together and together we should forge a formidable team.
“Your political clout is not something you built today and you cannot afford to let it go to waste. The party leadership will ensure that you get what is due you by way of recognition.
“Let us come together and work for the progress of our state. Work towards consolidating the strength of our party in Sagbama even more than you have been doing. Our first mandate is to deliver the president, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the APC at all levels.”
Dr. Akpe, stressed the need for members of the party to imbibe the virtues of unity, peace and tolerance, assuring that the party leadership would accord due recognition to all members.
The state APC senatorial vice chairman (West), Mr. Akuakwa B. Akuakwa, formally welcomed the defectors to the party, describing the development as a step in the right direction.
Mr. Akuakwa, urged members of the party in the West senatorial zone to work harmoniously with a view to ensuring a successful outing at all levels in next year’s poll.
Earlier in his remarks, leader of the delegation and former state Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Deacon James Agari, said their decision to defect to the APC was necessitated by the disintegration and collapse of the PDP as well as the need to identify with the Prosperity Government under the leadership of Governor Douye Diri.
Deacon Agari, who lauded Governor Diri’s inclusive leadership, stressed the need to continually support and work with the present administration for the good of all Bayelsans.
He said: “When our leader, the Governor of Bayelsa State decamped to the APC, some of us did not follow. The Governor told us ‘I will lead and I will not force anybody to follow me. But when you see the scenario, you will also follow.’
“We stayed behind, but now we have seen that the PDP is dead. And so, we cannot waste our time and that of our supporters. So we held a meeting as a group and agreed that this is the right time to defect and join our leader, the governor, in the APC for the good of Bayelsa State and our people.”
