In what seemed like an unusual turn of events, there was celebration among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State over the decision of the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, to defect from the party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Timi Alaibe, who had moved from PDP to Labour Party (LP) and APC and now to the PDP, in his quest to become the governor of the state, is expected to formally defect to the PDP tomorrow.
Alaibe was also a governorship aspirant in the aborted APC primary ahead of the 2016 governorship election in the state.
At the APC secretariat on Tuesday, some members of the APC known as the Bayelsa APC forum were seen jubilating and beating drums over Alaibe’s decision to cross over to the PDP, insisting that he was never a bona-fide member of the party.
Director-General of the group, Comrade Ebiweni Elliot, and Secretary, Loveday Lemanya, told newsmen that Alaibe’s planned defection had vidicated the members of the party who resisted his attempts to hijack the party for his inordinate ambition in 2016.
“Alhough Alaibe is free to move anywhere he wants, he was never a member of the APC and he is among the last batch of moles planted by the PDP in the opposition party in the state. Now, the APC can jubilate and say good riddance to bad rubbish,” Elliot said.
Also speaking, Secetary of the group, Loveday Lameyan, said the party’s steps were towards reorganising and repositioning itself ahead of the 2019 elections.
Organising Secretary of the APC, Honourable Tonye Okio, said: “This is a welcome development as Alaibe had been PDP at night and APC by day. His exit will create space for those who wanted to join us, but stayed back because of him. He was never significant and kept on sabotaging the party, so his departure is something we celebrate.”
