Senator Benson Konbowei representing Bayelsa Central of Bayelsa State, on Thursday, formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His defection was officially announced during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio through a formal letter submitted by the lawmaker.
Senator Konbowei, a founding member of the PDP since 1998, attributed his decision quit the party to long-standing internal divisions and a protracted leadership crisis within the party, which he said has rendered it incapable of functioning as a viable political platform.
He, therefore, said that he decided to tow the line of the Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, be defecting to the APC.
LEADERSHIP reports that Governor Diri and some members of the State House of Assembly announced their defection from PDP on Wednesday.
“Considering the unpleasant circumstances and the crisis-torn situation in the Peoples Democratic Party, I have resolved to join the governor of my state, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, in resigning my membership of the party,” he stated in his letter.
According to him, wide consultations with family members, political allies, and national stakeholders informed his decision to dump the PDP, which he said has lost its founding direction and ability to win even grassroots elections.
“I have lost hope in the capacity of my party to play the role of a political party that is capable of winning councillorship elections in Nigeria,” he said.
The Senator recalled the legacy of late PDP founding fathers like Alex Ekwueme and Solomon Lar, lamenting the state of the party they helped to build.
“Oh Alex Ekwueme, oh Solomon Lar of blessed memory, the political party you both built, which held lofty promises for Nigerians, has fallen into the wrong hands… The PDP has become characterised by eternal power struggles, irreconcilable conflicts, and is, at the moment, in total disarray,” he said.
With the 2027 general election approaching, Konbowei added that no serious politician would wait endlessly for the PDP to resolve its internal wrangling.
“Accordingly, it has left me with no option but to resign from that party you all built. So, I hereby resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party and declare my total loyalty, support, and movement to the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.
In his response, Senate President Akpabio welcomed Senator Konbowei to the APC caucus in the Senate and expressed confidence that his presence would further strengthen the ruling party’s legislative agenda.
“We welcome Senator Benson Konbowei to the APC family. Your decision is a bold one and we believe your experience and commitment will add value to the work we are doing here in the Senate,” Akpabio said.
