By Shina Badmus

A top ally of former Governor and Leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Bayelsa, Chief Timipre Sylva, Chief Nathan Egba, and host of others have defected to the People’s Democratic Party.

The Special Adviser to Governor Dickson on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said in a statement on Tuesday that Egba left the party with some leaders and several supporters.

Egba, a two-term Commissioner for Information in the state has been one of the strongest political allies of Sylva in Bayelsa State until his defection.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, received Egba and other top APC chieftains at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Tuesday.

Egba who is Okpoama, a Country home of the former governor in the Brass Local Government Area said that he had to return to the PDP because it was the better party for real politicking.

Egba, a founding member of the PDP, said that he had indicated interest to rejoin the PDP long ago because the party remained the only platform for real politicians.

He said, “I thank the Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, for this opportunity. I expressed interest to rejoin the party long ago and expected to go through some processes. I thank the Governor for the express admission into the party.

“I have been a member of the PDP and the APC and I know better now. It is good to be among politicians.”

Speaking also, Governor Dickson commended Egba for his service to all civilian administrations in Bayelsa State since its creation.

The Governor who called on the remaining members of the APC to leave the party for the PDP said that the essence of joining political party was to build and not to destroy.

He said that Egba has a great role to play in the development of his state and was happy to welcome him back to the party.

The Governor also called on all members of the PDP to unite the people under the party.

“I always tell our people to change from our old ways. We are in politics to build,not to destroy, to develop our state. And we are not even many. You have a great role to play. We are not happy when key people like you are not in the mainstream.

“Let bygones be bygones. Let’s focus on the great future that is lying before us.
Your rights and privileges are restored to you, beginning from your ward to the state level.

“I call on the few remaining people in the APC to come over to the PDP. You have tried enough, come and join us.

“I want to call on our party and members to unite our people, bring back aggrieved people into the PDP,” He said

In his remarks, the Bayelsa State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, said that the APC was almost dead with the defection of Egba and others.

He said that the PDP would relentlessly pursue the directive of the governor to totally collapse the APC in the state.

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