Barely a week after a high court in Lokoja, Kogi State annulled the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, led by a former governor of Bayelsa State, the party has suffered a major setback in the home state of the national leader.
Before the court judgement, Dickson had boasted of how he would take over the state from the APC, currently led by Senator Douye Diri. His confidence grew when some chieftains of the APC decided to join the NDC.
But on Monday, a veteran politician, Chief Fyneman Wilson, and thousands of his supporters decided to abandon Dickson to pitch tent with Diri’s APC.
Wilson, a former legislator in the old Rivers State House of Assembly and former political adviser to Dickson when he was governor of the state, who had joined NDC for a few months, said the party lacked internal democracy as every decision was taken by Dickson himself.
In deciding to quit the NDC, the man who is seen as a political tactician expressed displeasure over how the party treated his son, whom he said defeated his opponent in the primary election but that the result was overturned to favour his rival.
Wilson, who warned that there would be consequences if the party jettisoned internal democracy, tendered his resignation last Friday.
He stated that he decided to join APC to help the party win elections and promised to work assiduously for the success of his new party.
He said: “My son, Felix Wilson, contested the (House of Assembly) primary in NDC and he defeated Michael (Magbisa) hands down. I met with the chairman, managing director and national leader of NDC and he told me he would look into it.
“He came to my house and first condoled with me over the demise of my son. I told him to go straight to the point, that my son won the primary election and if he is not declared the winner, I would leave the party. “The NDC is a one-man show and it is heading nowhere.”
In separate remarks, some of the leaders of the defectors, including Mr. Felix Wilson, Hon. Victor Egba and Mrs Egbuson Clement, all described the NDC as a one-man party and expressed delight to be part of the APC while promising to work for the victory of the ruling party.
Welcoming the new members, the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, who represented Governor Douye Diri, described Chief Wilson as an encyclopedia and a father whose experience in politics will prove valuable to the APC in the 2027 elections and beyond.
The deputy governor said the APC was a democratic party that is fair and just to its members, citing the recent rancour-free congresses and primaries of the party as testament to its democratic credentials.
Akpe stressed that the APC would continue to engage people constructively on the need to join what he called the winning team, saying the decision to dump the NDC for the APC was well thought out.
He said: “Let me appreciate and recognise our father, Chief Fyneman Wilson, who can be rightly described as an encyclopedia. His level of experience in politics is rare and we recognise your presence for being with us where you are supposed to be.
“This day has gone down in the history of Bayelsa State. You have all done what is right. APC is the right place to be. As much as possible, there is inclusivity in the party.
“There were a lot of engagements. All interests were put together during the congreses and primaries to enable the party have the synergy to move together.
“I join the party leadership to say welcome to your party. Together we will work for the success of all our candidates in the 2027 elections.”
Earlier, a former deputy governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, said with the coming of Wilson, his son and other followers, the APC will coast to victory in Sagbama and Bayelsa West in the 2027 general election.
Also, the Bayelsa West APC Vice Chairman, Akwakwa Akwakwa, welcomed the defectors, describing their decision to join the party as the best.
