Global site navigation

Local editions

2023: Ex-Defence Chief, Over 5,000 APC Members Defect to PDP, Photos of Grand Reception Emerge
Politics

2023: Ex-Defence Chief, Over 5,000 APC Members Defect to PDP, Photos of Grand Reception Emerge

by  Nurudeen Lawal 2 min read
  • The APC allegedly lost over 5,000 members to the PDP in Bayelsa state at a rally on Tuesday, February 15
  • Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson, a former commandant of the National Defence College, and other APC chieftains led their supporters to the PDP
  • Lokoson who was a member of the PDP before explained why he joined the APC and why he decided to return to his former party

Your support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng.

Yenagoa, Bayelsa state - Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson, a former commandant of the National Defence College, Abuja, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa state.

Daily Trust reported that former defence chief defected to the PDP alongside over 5,000 APC chieftains and members.

Ex-Defence Chief, 5,000 Members Dump APC, Defect to PDP in Bayelsa
The PDP has welcomed over 5,000 APC members in Bayelsa state. Photo credit: Bayelsa Government New Media
Source: Facebook

Legit.ng gathers that Lokoson said he returned to the PDP, his former party because of the quality of trust that Governor Douri Diri had demonstrated in his leadership style in the state.

Read also

Defection hits APC as governor’s brother, Buhari, others dump ruling party for PDP

It was learnt that Lokoson and other APC chieftains 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, February 15.

PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!

They were received by the national chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, Diri and other governors elected on the party’s platform 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.

2023: Governor Diri asks PDP chieftains who defected to APC to return home

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa state governor, Diri, in a previous report by Legit.ng called on those who left the opposition party to return.

Read also

2023: Atiku faces new threat as Saraki's ally Baraje insists zoning is in PDP constitution

The governor said that his party, the PDP, has forgiven all those that left the party before now. He stated that that the door was still wide open for them to come back.

Diri made the statement on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, during his speech at the official commissioning of the new PDP secretariat in Yenagoa.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nurudeen Lawal avatar

Nurudeen Lawal (Head of Politics and Current Affairs Desk) Nurudeen Lawal is an AFP-certified journalist with a wealth of experience spanning over 8 years. He received his B/Arts degree in Literature-in-English from OAU. Lawal is the Head of the Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. He was named the Political Desk Head of the Year (Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award 2023). He is also a certified fact-checker (Dubawa fellowship, 2020). Contact him at lawal.nurudeen@corp.legit.ng or +2347057737768.

Tags:
Hot: