Godson Irikefe
May 28, 2015 – A political group known as Forward PDP for Progress (FOPPRO), said it has uncovered plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC), to use some of the expelled members of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) in the State, including the party’s embattled former chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (retd), to polarize its rank and file.
The measure, according to the group is aimed at handing political leadership in Bayelsa State to the opposition. In a statement, Chairman and Secretary of the group, Mr. Victor Ebikemieh and Ayatari Noel-Tenson, said that, the expelled Chairman of the party has been in consultation with the leader of the APC and former Governor of the State, Timipre Sylva.
Sylva was said to have advised the former chairman not to defect, but remain with the PDP to fight out his suit challenging his suspension as chairman.
FOPPRO said Sylva deliberately wants, Col. Inokoba to remain in the PDP and create divisions and disunity and weaken the party, with a view to placing the APC in a more advantageous position, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
According to the deal, Col. Inokoba has been offered a federal appointment, should he succeed and ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming election.
The group alleged that some of the expelled PDP members have concluded plans to fund some political thugs and miscreants to create a state of insecurity and make the state unsafe for law abiding citizens.
The group is of the view that the real motive is to ensure that, legitimate voters are scared away from coming out to vote during the forthcoming governorship polls in the State.
The FOPPRO statement called on well-meaning Bayelsans to resist the temptation, while urging parents and guardians to prevail on their children and wards, not to allow themselves to be used by this group of selfish and unpatriotic elements to truncate the serene and peaceful atmosphere in the state
