…Ex-Reps Member Bemoans Dickson’s Action
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has intensified efforts to consolidate internal peace within the party as it seeks to counter the threat posed by the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), which is reportedly making moves to lure APC members into its fold ahead of the 2027 elections.
Former governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, recently defected to the NDC, which he is said to be positioning as a major opposition platform in the state.
Investigations indicate that several politicians in the state—particularly those who previously defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC—have been receiving calls encouraging them to join the NDC, with promises of party tickets to contest upcoming elections.
However, the newly elected Chairman of the APC in Bayelsa State, Hon. Warman Weri Ogoriba, has moved swiftly to counter the development by initiating peace-building efforts aimed at strengthening unity within the party.
Speaking during a private meeting with the State and Local Government Coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), led by Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, Ogoriba assured that the party, under his leadership and that of Governor Senator Douye Diri, would conduct rancour-free primary elections in line with the consensus of stakeholders.
According to him, opposition parties, including the NDC, would be disappointed if they were expecting divisions within the APC in the state.
“We are operating an open-door policy and have begun reaching out to stakeholders to ensure that the party remains united and free from acrimony. Those in the opposition hoping for an implosion within the APC before they can survive politically will be disappointed,” Ogoriba said.
Sources within the party disclosed that since assuming office, Ogoriba has reached out to key figures, including Chief David Lyon and the APC’s running mate in the 2023 governorship election, Chief Joshua Maclver, as part of efforts to consolidate harmony within the party.
The move is also aimed at reassuring critical stakeholders of the party’s commitment to sustaining the transparent decision-making process initiated by Governor Douye Diri, who is regarded as the party’s leader in the state.
Meanwhile, a former member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, has criticised Senator Dickson over what he described as attempts to discredit the performance of the Diri-led administration.
Sunny-Goli described Dickson’s comments as a “needless distraction” capable of heating the polity and destabilising the state’s political atmosphere.
He urged Governor Diri to remain focused on delivering his administration’s development agenda, noting that residents of Bayelsa State were satisfied with the governor’s leadership and development efforts.
“It is laughable that he attempts to compare his inglorious administration with that of Governor Douye Diri, who has not only restored tranquillity but has also blurred the lines of partisan politics,” Sunny-Goli said.
The former lawmaker also alleged that Senator Dickson has a “penchant for stoking political tension” whenever his personal or political ambitions are at stake, and advised Governor Diri to disregard the criticisms and remain focused on governance.
