A fierce intra-party battle has erupted in Bayelsa State as a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leader accused Governor Douye Diri of plotting a destructive defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to seize control of the APC’s state chapter. Yekini Nabena, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, branded Diri’s anticipated Monday switch as a “value-less” maneuver designed to dismantle existing leadership, including smearing Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
Core Allegations and Nabena’s Outburst
In a fiery press briefing in Abuja, Nabena dismissed Diri’s defection as politically impotent, insisting the governor is “joining APC empty-handed.” He highlighted glaring absences in Diri’s camp:
- No Mass Defection: Unlike high-profile shifts in Delta and Enugu states, Diri’s deputy governor, state assembly members, and 90% of National Assembly lawmakers – including Senator Henry Seriake Dickson – are staying put with PDP.
- Internal Rejections: Nabena claimed Diri lacks control even in his Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area and senatorial district, questioning: “Who is running after him, or what is he running after?”
- Impeachment Plot: The governor is allegedly scheming to oust his deputy to consolidate power pre-defection.
Nabena reserved his sharpest criticism for what he called a “dirty tactics” campaign by Diri’s loyalists, including circulating false arrest rumors against Ogbuku over an alleged coup plot. “We have traced these happenings to Governor Diri’s camp,” Nabena charged. “The plan is to destroy existing organs and prominent members before he decamps.” He urged Nigerians to ignore the “fake reports,” positioning Ogbuku as a stabilizing force aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Despite the barbs, Nabena clarified: “We are not saying the governor should not join APC – it is a democracy.” His red line: Diri must not “destroy some people and the existing leadership” to dominate the party.
Broader Context in Niger Delta Politics
This showdown unfolds amid heightened political jockeying in the oil-rich Niger Delta, where defections often signal 2027 election strategies. Bayelsa, a PDP stronghold since 1999, has seen APC gains in recent polls, bolstered by federal appointments like Ogbuku’s NDDC role. The commission, headquartered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is pivotal for regional development – from agriculture initiatives to infrastructure – making Ogbuku a key APC asset.
Diri’s camp has not publicly responded, but sources close to Government House Yenagoa describe the defection as a “strategic realignment” to access federal patronage amid PDP’s national woes. Critics, however, echo Nabena: Without a robust followership, Diri risks isolation in APC’s Bayelsa chapter, potentially fracturing the party’s unity ahead of local polls.
The smear on Ogbuku ties into wider coup plot rumors rocking the region, including NDDC fund diversions. Nabena’s defense reinforces Ogbuku’s stature, with several PDP heavyweights reportedly waiting to defect “through” him “at the right time.”
Implications for Bayelsa and Niger Delta
- APC Stability: A Diri-led takeover could alienate loyalists, weakening the party’s grip in a state where it controls the House of Assembly minority.
- NDDC Focus: Attacks on Ogbuku threaten momentum on flagship projects like transforming the Delta into a food security hub, as announced at last week’s Port Harcourt retreat.
- 2027 Stakes: With Governor Diri’s term ending, this feud foreshadows a bruising primary battle, potentially drawing in federal heavyweights.
APC national leadership has yet to intervene, but insiders predict a weekend mediation push. Bayelsa residents, weary of political drama amid economic hardships, view the saga with skepticism – prioritizing deliverables over defections.
