By Attah Ede
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri,on Monday formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party and was officially welcomed into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Vice President Kashim Shettima led a high-powered APC delegation to Yenagoa for the governor’s official reception into the party.
Also present at the ceremony were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom).
Diri’s reception took place 19 days after his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Sharing insight into his defection, the governor said, “This defection is not a Beyalsa defection, it is the Ijaw nation defecting to the APC.”
He stated, “We tried all we could to save the PDP but to no avail. Undertakers were very busy burying the PDP.
“After seeing that the undertakers wanted to bury the PDP, I never wanted my state to be buried alongside with PDP
“So, knowing what was going on, after all my consultations with all the leaders, it was incumbent on me as governor to make a decision.”
The occasion attracted a massive crowd of supporters waving party flags and chanting slogans to welcome Diri into the APC fold.
Diri’s defection follows a string of high-profile movements from the PDP to the ruling party in the buildup to the 2027 general elections.
It would be recalled that the Bayelsa governor announced his resignation from the PDP on October 15 during a meeting at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House in Yenagoa, citing “obvious reasons” for his decision.
“After extensive consultations, today, 15 October 2025, I wish to notify you that, in keeping with the extant protocols, I, Governor Douye Diri, do hereby resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party,” Diri stated.
Diri’s exit received swift endorsement from 21 of the 24 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Abraham Ngobere.
Ten lawmakers were present at the announcement.
The Assembly is currently made up of 20 PDP members, three from the APC, and one from the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
Meanwhile, the PDP is fighting a deepening internal crisis following leadership disputes at its national level.
Just few days ago, National Chairman Umar Damagum and the National Working Committee suspended key party officials, including National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.
In retaliation, the Anyanwu-led faction announced the suspension of Damagum, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and several other NWC members.
By Monday, Abdulrahman Mohammed led Anyanwu’s camp to resume at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja as Acting National Chairman while Damagum and his loyalists stayed away.
