IYP attacks Timi Alaibe, others over defection

The Ijaw Young Professionals (IYP) on Monday berated members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State who they said, are set to decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing their action as “shameful and disgraceful.”
It was widely reported at the weekend that many of the ruling party’s leaders and members in the state were ready to switch camp to the opposition party at an event in the state capital on Saturday.
Listed among those ready to defect were the former Managing Director of Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Timi Alaibe and former member of the House of Representatives, Stell Dorgu.
But in its reaction in a statement on Monday in Yenagoa, the Spokesperson of IYP, Seighfa Tonye-Brown, in a statement said the planned defection was “shameless and disgraceful.”
He however expressed optimism that their defection from PDP “will not affect the chances of the incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson, from being re-elected.”
According to him, the reason for the impending defection was “greed and selfish interest rather than the desire to serve.”
Read also: Ahead Bayelsa polls, PDP BoT brokers peace
Tonye-Brown said based on that premise, the defectors will not enjoy the support of the people of Bayelsa State.
He said that these same people were those who conspired against former President Goodluck Jonathan in his reelection bid despite the enormous benefits they got through influential appointments “but was never reflected in whatever form in the lives of their people in the state.”
This, he said, did not recommend them as worthy leaders to be trusted and called on Bayelsans to reject them ahead of the election.

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