Bayelsa commissioner quits Dickson’s cabinet, joins APC

Ibarakumo Otobo, commissioner for youth development in Bayelsa, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Similarly, Asari Mangeta, a special adviser to Seriake Dickson, the state governor, defected alongside Otobo on Wednesday.

The duo was received by the executive committee of APC at the party secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Otobo said he decided to quit the PDP to work for APC’s victory in the 2019 elections.

“I have just resigned my appointment in the administration of Seriake Dickson and I have left PDP for APC,” Otobo said.

“I have a winning spirit and do not go where there is failure, joining the APC with my supporters will bring the winning streak to Bayelsa.

“My antecedents are known and our people know that I am a man of convictions. I pledge to work for APC from this moment.”

Speaking on the occasion, Jothan Amos, state chairman of APC, said the defection of a serving commissioner was an indication that all was not well with the PDP government in the state.

He said the APC was poised to take over the state come 2020.

Amos described as “regrettable,” the sack of 28, 000 civil servants in the ongoing public service reforms at a time of economic hardship.

“How can you finish sacking workers and then start holding town hall meetings when the town hall meetings should have been held before reforms,” Amos asked.

“The way the government carried the reforms shows that they lacked ideas and are not capable of managing reforms.”