Bayelsa Reps Quit PDP, Cite Leadership Turmoil

Two members of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State on Wednesday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), blaming their decision on the lingering leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the defection of Rodney Ambaiowei (Southern Ijaw) and Oboku Oforji (Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma) after reading their separate letters during plenary.

Ambaiowei, in his letter, said the deepening rift within the national leadership of the PDP had paralysed the party’s structure across the country, creating confusion over who legitimately controls party affairs.

He said the situation had made it nearly impossible for him to function effectively or represent his constituents as expected.

“With the prevailing uncertainty, it has become difficult to perform my role and effectively represent my constituency. This defection has become necessary to offer my people true representation,” Ambaiowei wrote.

Oforji, while expressing appreciation to the PDP for the platform that brought him into the House, said he was left with no choice but to exit the party due to its prolonged internal crisis.

Their exit comes barely 24 hours after Mansur Musa, a lawmaker from Kebbi State, also left the PDP for the APC.

The opposition party has suffered a string of defections in recent weeks, including that of Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, who left the PDP last month.

With the latest defections, the PDP’s numbers in the National Assembly continue to shrink as the APC strengthens its foothold.