Lawmakers repre­senting the Sena­torial District and Constituencies of President Goodluck Jon­athan in Bayelsa State yesterday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progres­sives Congress (APC).

This was even as the for­mer governor of the state, Chief Timpreye Sylva, boasted that APC would win the next governorship election in the state later this year.

The defecting lawmakers include Senator Clever Iki­sikpo (Bayelsa East Sena­torial District), Mr. Nadu Karibo, House of Repre­sentatives member repre­senting Ogbia constituency and Azibola Omekwe rep­resenting Ogbia constitu­ency at the state House of Assembly, Mr. Azibola Omekwe.

Addressing newsmen at the APC national secre­tariat, Ikisikpo, who spoke on behalf of other defectors hinged their decision on the need to serve the interests of their constituents as well as the state.

Ikisikpo, who prior to his election to the Senate had been in the House of Repre­sentaives and state Assem­bly under the platform of PDP since 1999, said they joined APC to ensure that Bayelsa State did not miss out in the direction the na­tion was going.

He disclosed that the incumbent Governor of the state Dickson Seriake would soon join the APC, saying: “It is, indeed, un­fortunate that the PDP which used to be known for fairness and ability to accommodate different shades of opinion, has been hijacked by a few people.”

In his speech, the elated former governor of the state, Sylva, said the defec­tion of the lawmakers was a precursor to the big har­vest coming the way of the APC.

•Adapted from Daily Sun.