Bayelsa gov’s ex-aide dumps PDP for APC amid internal crisis
Former Technical Adviser to the governor of Bayelsa State on Information and Strategy, Mr Jeremiah Perekeme Owoupele, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the All Progressives Congress.
There are concerns in political circles that his resignation on Sunday could trigger more defections from the PDP over the party’s protracted internal crisis that is affecting the national, zonal and state levels.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Chairman, PDP Ward 5, Ebedebiri, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, Owoupele said his decision to dump the PDP was due to the series of events that tended to compromise his belief in the party.
Owoupele said the PDP “had taken a downward slide that seems unabated despite several attempts to bring realities to the leadership.”
He noted that as someone who had worked for the growth and development of the party, he could no longer accept the development in good fate and decided to part ways with the party.
Following Owoupele’s resignation, the South-South Zonal Secretary, George Turnah said the party has lost a committed member, adding that his defection highlighted the discontent and frustrations that have affected members of the party.
A statement by Turnah’s media assistant, Kevin Loveday-Egbo, on Monday reads in part, “Owoupele’s resignation underscores the deep-rooted issues plaguing our party, particularly the ineffective leadership under the current State Working Committee.
“The lack of vision, poor reward systems, and apparent neglect by the party’s leadership in the state has forced dedicated members like Owoupele to seek alternatives. His voice represents the sentiments of many young and vibrant pillars of our party, who feel marginalized and disenfranchised.”
He pointed out that the leadership’s failure and highhandedness displayed by the current SWC have created an environment of impunity and illegality, which has directly contributed to the decline of the party’s influence in the state.
Turnah called on the members of the SWC to resign immediately to save the party from further decline.
He said, “Their incompetence, ineffectiveness, and several acts of impunity are intolerable. Notably, their actions, such as the establishment of a factional Ward Executive Committee for Ogbia Ward 9 and the unjust withholding of allowances from the legitimate executive of the same ward, exemplify a clear breach of our party’s constitution.
“The filing of multiple cases against the party and its officers at the Bayelsa State High Court without first exhausting available internal mechanisms for conflict resolution is a further indication of the chaos and division sown by the failed leadership. The time for change is now; we must prioritize the interests of our party and its loyal members.”
Expressing solidarity with Owoupele, Turnah called on all patriotic members to come together and join hands to restore integrity and unity within ‘’our ranks to enable the PDP to fulfil its mandate and serve the people of Bayelsa State effectively.”
