By GABRIEL UKUTA

The All progressives Congress in Bayelsa State has lost more weight as Over 100 supporters of the party in Angalabiri community Saturday dumped the party for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The defectors announced their decision during a carnival-like reception organised for Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the NDC and the party’s senatorial candidate for Bayelsa West, as part of his thank-you visit to the community.

Speaking at the event, the member representing Sagbama Constituency I in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Oyinke Godbless, welcomed the defectors to the NDC and declared that Angalabiri had resolved to identify with the NDC and support its candidates across the various elective positions from presidential to state house of assembly elections in the state.

“Angalabiri is an NDC community. The people have made their decision, and we are prepared to support the party and all its candidates, from the presidential election to the State House of Assembly,” he said.

Also speaking, a youth leader from the community, Hon. Patrick Titus, expressed appreciation to Senator Dickson for visiting the community, noting that the people were pleased to receive him after his engagements at the national level.

He commended the turnout of women and youths at the reception, describing it as an indication of the community’s total support for the NDC and its activities.

“The youths and women of Angalabiri are happy to receive Senator Dickson. His visit means a lot to the community, and the large turnout here demonstrates the level of interest and support he enjoys among our people,” Titus said.

In his remarks, Senator Dickson, a former two-term Governor of Bayelsa State, thanked the traditional elders, political stakeholders, women and youths for their prayers and support over the years.

He urged residents to work with community leaders to ensure peaceful and credible elections, cautioning against actions capable of creating tension or disrupting the peace of the community.

Dickson also encouraged the people to participate actively in the electoral process by exercising their voting rights, stressing the importance of the principle of ‘one man, one vote’.

He called on residents to reject electoral violence and malpractice, irrespective of the individuals or groups involved, and to contribute to a peaceful electoral environment.

Earlier in the day, scores of APC members from Isampou and Ogrigbene communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area equally dumped the APC for the NDC.

They announced their decision when they paid a visit to Senator Dickson at his country home in a Toru-Orua to pay their respects to him.

They thanked him for the quality of representation they enjoy from him at the National Assembly and for his latest political accomplishments in founding the NDC, pledging their support for the party and its candidates ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general elections.