In a landmark political shift that has electrified the Niger Delta, Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) today, marking the end of weeks of speculation and solidifying APC dominance in the oil-rich region. The high-profile ceremony at the 5,000-capacity Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa drew thousands of supporters from all eight local government areas, defying early morning rains with chants, drumming, and white-clad processions that overflowed the venue by 10 a.m., prompting security to halt entries to avert a stampede.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, led the official welcome, raising Diri’s hand aloft in a symbolic gesture of solidarity amid pomp and pageantry. Shettima hailed the move as a “homecoming” for Bayelsa, aligning it with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to accelerate federal funding for infrastructure and youth empowerment in the Niger Delta. “This is not just a defection; it’s a commitment to progress, peace, and prosperity for our brothers in the creeks and communities,” Shettima declared, flanked by APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Diri, who resigned from the PDP on October 15 after extensive consultations, addressed the roaring crowd, reiterating that his decision was “in the best interest of Bayelsa and its people—not for personal gain, but for development.” Speaking hours before the event during the state’s 14th Annual Thanksgiving Service at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene, Diri explained: “Somebody had to take the bold step, and I did it on behalf of Bayelsans. Some may not understand now, but time will reveal it was selfless.” He emphasized unity across party lines, urging: “Politics is for development, not to kill your brother. The peace and security we enjoy today are blessings we must preserve.”
The governor’s mass defection includes his state executive council, lawmakers, two serving senators, and prominent PDP stalwarts like former Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi and 2019 APC gubernatorial candidate Chief David Lyon. Gospel artist Asu Ekiye performed at the thanksgiving, while Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey and Bishop Mike Okonkwo delivered sermons on gratitude and divine favor for the state’s trajectory.
High-Profile Attendance Signals Niger Delta Consolidation
The event underscored APC’s strategic push southward, with governors from Delta (Sheriff Oborevwori), Akwa Ibom (Umo Eno), and Ondo (Lucky Aiyedatiwa) in attendance—Oborevwori, himself a recent defector, praised Bayelsa’s “atmosphere of unity” as key to progress. Other notables included former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Minister of Niger Delta Development Abubakar Momoh, former Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority MD Chief Ebitimi Amgbare. Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma and traditional rulers from the Ijaw nation also joined, framing the defection as an “Ijaw Nation alignment” with federal power for resource control and economic revival.
Delta’s Oborevwori, represented earlier by adviser Funkekeme Solomon, stressed: “Bayelsa’s development depends on collective peace—unity is our strength.” Akwa Ibom’s Eno, arriving with his team, shared photos on X, calling it a “progressive family reunion.” X users amplified this, with posts like @youngdestinya’s (3 views) hailing the “progressive governors” gathering, and @Imranmuhdz’s video (3.4K views, 101 likes) declaring: “This defection is not just Bayelsa—it’s the Ijaw Nation to APC.”
Tensions: Deputy Governor’s Impeachment Looms
The celebrations cast a shadow over intra-party rifts, as Bayelsa Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo—loyal to PDP godfather and Bayelsa West Senator Seriake Dickson—faces impeachment threats from the state assembly. Ewhrudjakpo, who refused to defect, sued the assembly, Speaker Abraham Ingobere, Chief Judge Matilda Ayemieye, Attorney-General Biriyai Dambo, the Inspector-General of Police, and DSS Director-General in Abuja’s Federal High Court to block the plot and protect his security. Dickson confirmed rebuffing Diri’s overtures to join APC, citing ideological differences.
Minister of State for Petroleum Heineken Lokpobiri warned against “disloyalty,” while APC chieftain Chief Ayiri Emami attributed the wave of defections to Tinubu’s “superlative performance” in the South-South, including NDDC strides. This marks the fourth PDP governor to switch this year—joining Oborevwori (Delta), Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Enugu’s Peter Mbah—leaving only Rivers’ Siminalayi Fubara in PDP for the region.
Niger Delta Implications: Oil Stability and Federal Alignment
For the Niger Delta, Diri’s move—Bayelsa’s first APC governor since its 1996 creation—promises streamlined federal interventions amid U.S. threats over security and recent NDDC’s ₦10 billion entrepreneurship boost. Analysts see it bolstering anti-militancy efforts, with X threads like @IkwerreFinest’s video (5 views) calling it an “Ijaw Nation defection” to safeguard oil sovereignty. Yet, critics on Nairaland and X warn of PDP backlash, potentially fueling local tensions.
On X, #DiriDefects trended with 500+ mentions, blending jubilation (@channelstv’s live thread: 3.7K views) and skepticism (@Ade_Nurayn: 552 views, predicting more shifts). Posts from @thecableng (21 views) and @DailyPostNGR (4.7K views) captured the stadium frenzy, while @ARISEtv (4.6K views) highlighted Diri’s unity plea.
As Bayelsa glows with festivities, Diri vowed continuity: completing inherited projects while initiating new ones in agriculture, security, and infrastructure. “Bayelsa will thrive under this new alignment,” he affirmed, eyes on 2027 polls.
