Bayelsa Political Landscape Shifts as APC Members Defect to NDC

The political landscape in Bayelsa State has experienced a notable shift following the defection of over 100 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The announcement, reported by the Daily Post Nigeria, took place during a visit by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson to the Angalabiri community on Saturday.

A Strategic Shift in Angalabiri

The defectors, who previously supported the APC, declared their new allegiance during a public event attended by Senator Dickson, the national leader of the NDC and the party’s senatorial candidate for Bayelsa West. Hon. Oyinke Godbless, the lawmaker representing Sagbama Constituency I in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, formally welcomed the new members. According to the Daily Post Nigeria, Godbless stated that the community has decided to align itself with the NDC to support the party’s candidates in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

While the specific motivations behind the mass defection were not detailed in the report, the move is being framed by local party leadership as a consolidation of support for the NDC within the Sagbama constituency.

Broader Gains for the NDC

The defection in Angalabiri appears to be part of a wider trend of movement between parties in the region. The Daily Post Nigeria noted that the NDC recorded additional gains on the same day, with members of the APC from Isampou and Ogrigbene communities in the Ekeremor Local Government Area also announcing their departure from the APC to join the NDC.

Calls for Electoral Integrity

During his address to the community, Senator Dickson, who previously served two terms as the governor of Bayelsa State, focused on the importance of maintaining stability as the 2027 election cycle approaches. He urged residents to prioritize unity and to work in tandem with community leaders to ensure that the electoral process remains peaceful and credible.

Dickson issued a warning against political activities that could incite tension or division within the state. He emphasized the necessity for all eligible voters to participate in the democratic process while explicitly calling for the rejection of electoral violence, intimidation, and malpractice. He advocated for the principle of ‘one man, one vote,’ urging citizens to remain vigilant against any attempts to undermine the integrity of the ballot, regardless of the political actors involved.

Context and Outlook

As Nigeria looks toward the 2027 general elections, political maneuvering and shifts in party membership are common occurrences. The defection of over 100 members in a single day highlights the ongoing competition between the APC and the NDC for influence in Bayelsa State. While these defections represent a tactical win for the NDC in specific local government areas, the long-term impact on the state’s political balance remains to be seen as the election season progresses.

Information regarding the specific number of defectors in the Ekeremor communities was not provided in the source report, nor were there comments from APC leadership regarding these departures.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Daily Post Nigeria

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