The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State has suffered another setback following the defection of more than 100 of its supporters in Angalabiri community to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.
The defectors announced their decision on Saturday during the visit of Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, the NDC national leader and the party’s senatorial candidate for Bayelsa West, to the community.
The lawmaker representing Sagbama Constituency I in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Oyinke Godbless, welcomed the defectors and said Angalabiri had decided to align with the NDC and support its candidates in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
Godbless assured the defectors that they would be welcomed into the party, declaring that the community was now firmly behind the NDC.
Dickson, who served two terms as governor of Bayelsa State, urged residents to maintain unity and work closely with community leaders to guarantee peaceful and credible elections.
He warned against political activities capable of creating divisions or tension or disturbing the peace of the community, emphasising that every eligible voter should participate in the electoral process.
Dickson also called on the people to defend the principle of ‘one man, one vote,’ urging them to reject electoral violence, intimidation and malpractice regardless of those responsible.
Meanwhile, the NDC recorded additional gains earlier on Saturday as members of the APC from Isampou and Ogrigbene communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area also announced their defection to the party.