5,000 APC faithful, Ex-Defence Chief, defect to PDP in Bayelsa

A former Commandant of the National Defence College, Abuja, Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson (retd), and over 5000 other faithful of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.

Lokoson, who hails from the Southern Ijaw Local government area of the state, said that he returned to the PDP, his former party because of the quality of trust that Governor Diri had demonstrated in his leadership style in the state.

He was among several APC chieftains who led over 5,000 of their supporters to return to the PDP during a rally in Yenagoa as part of activities marking Governor Douye Diri’s second year in office on Tuesday.The national chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, led Diri and other governors elected on the party’s platform to receive them at a ceremony held at the Oxbow Lake Pavilion in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Speaking with newsmen after the defection, Lokoson said he had joined the APC from an uninformed position, stressing that he did not get his facts right before making the decision.

He said: “Today, I am much better informed. I have been part of the two parties and know them to a great extent. I have all it takes to make an informed decision. The PDP is my choice, my final bus stop. No shaking!”According to him, the element of trust shown by the governor and his pragmatic approach to governance had instilled confidence in the leadership of the party in the state.

Lokoson said he was delighted to identify with the Diri-led administration, describing him as “a dynamic, focused and forward-looking leader.”

The former naval chief further said, “We can see a deliberate attempt at driving a convincing agenda that impacts the socio-economic space. This has built confidence in the leadership and processes of the party. There is now trust in the party hierarchy. Trust is very critical as it can shape or destabilise the structure.

“For us in the PDP, we are glad to have a leadership that can always be trusted and is strategic, meticulous and conscious in leading. I formally return to the PDP with a clear conscience. Whatever mistakes that were made in the past will certainly be avoided and will help shape the future.”