Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fueling widespread speculation that he is on the verge of joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Diri announced his resignation on Wednesday during a meeting of the State Executive Council held at the Government House in Yenagoa. Although he did not immediately confirm his next political move, multiple reports suggest that his defection to the APC is imminent.
According to Arise TV, the governor’s decision has the backing of 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, signaling a significant political shift in the oil-rich state.
The development comes barely 24 hours after Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, also dumped the PDP for the APC — a move analysts believe could mark the beginning of a broader wave of defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the news, Udengs Eradiri, former President of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide and a prominent APC chieftain, welcomed Diri’s expected entry into the ruling party. He urged the governor to use his reputation for peacebuilding to reconcile internal factions within the Bayelsa APC, particularly between the camps of former Governor Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri.
Eradiri cautioned against sidelining Sylva, describing him as one of the founding pillars of the APC in Bayelsa. “Former Governor Sylva has contributed immensely to the development of the APC. All those people throwing stones at Sylva today were not there when he was toiling and building this party. You cannot just push him aside,” he stated.
He added that Diri’s entry into the APC could foster unity and open new development opportunities for Bayelsa. “We expect that you bring your peaceful demeanour to override these interests and lead the party as a peaceful house. Bayelsa has a lot to gain if the APC becomes a strong, united family,” he said.
Eradiri also highlighted the potential advantages of aligning with the federal government, noting that such a move could attract investor confidence, increase access to federal support, and enhance Bayelsa’s influence in national policymaking.
Governor Diri and the 23 lawmakers are expected to formally declare their membership of the APC in the coming days, as political observers keep a close eye on what could be one of the most consequential realignments in Bayelsa’s political history ahead of the 2027 polls.
