Bayelsa Governor Diri’s Defection to APC Confirmed Amid Plot to Nullify PDP Nominations

The defection of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been confirmed by close political allies.

TJ News Nigeriareports that the confirmation came on Tuesday, July 15, during a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, by Hon. Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, Technical Adviser to the Governor on Print Media and Public Affairs and convener of the Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders group.

Ikuli, who spoke on behalf of the group, described Diri’s planned defection as “non-negotiable and sacrosanct,” citing internal crises in the PDP and an alleged plot to sabotage PDP candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Alleged Plot to Undermine PDP Nominations

“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in the PDP to nullify all nominations made under its platform,” Ikuli warned.

According to him, the increasing legal instability within the PDP has placed the political future of Bayelsa and the broader Ijaw Nation at risk, prompting urgent calls for Governor Diri to align with the APC-led federal government.

Bayelsa: PDP’s Last Stronghold in South-South

Bayelsa remains the only state in the South-South geopolitical zone still governed by the PDP. Ikuli argued that the state’s continued association with the opposition party could isolate it politically and economically.

TJ News Nigeria learnt that the Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders are particularly alarmed by the potential nullification of PDP nominations across the country, allegedly orchestrated through strategic lawsuits and internal sabotage.

“The same forces that denied the Ijaw Nation a second term at the Presidency in 2015 are still in the PDP,” Ikuli claimed, blaming intra-party betrayal for the region’s diminished influence in national politics.

Call for Alignment with Federal Government

Ikuli called on Governor Diri to join the ruling APC in order to safeguard the Ijaw Nation’s political relevance and attract federal development initiatives.

He cited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointments of several Ijaw leaders into key federal positions as evidence of goodwill towards the region, including:

• Senator Heineken Lokpobiri – Minister of State for Petroleum Resources
• Chief Samuel Ogbuku – Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
• Chief Ebitimi Amgbare – Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDDBA)
• Hon. Preye Aganaba – Executive Director, Southern Sensitization and Development Commission (SSDC)

“We thank Mr. President for his magnanimity, including the federal takeover of the Second Phase of the Nembe-Brass Road. It’s time for Governor Diri to reciprocate that trust and align with the centre,” he said.

Ijaw Doctrine of Political Alignment

Quoting Ijaw founding fathers such as High Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and Chief Melford Okilo, Ikuli emphasized the Ijaw doctrine of aligning with the party at the federal centre for enhanced development.

“Our people live in remote riverine terrain. Only alignment with the federal government guarantees inclusion and sustainable growth,” he noted.

Ikuli also pointed to the Agge Deep Seaport project as a strategic initiative that would benefit from federal collaboration, asserting that its realisation is only possible through APC-led federal support.

Stakeholders Launch Daily Rallies

To actualize their objective, the Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders announced plans to organize daily rallies in Yenagoa to mobilize public support and put pressure on Governor Diri to formalize his defection to the APC.

They described the move as part of a broader campaign to protect the political future of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation.

PDP Yet to React

As of the time of filing this report, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had not issued an official response to the development or the allegations of internal sabotage and legal manipulations.

Political analysts note that if confirmed, Diri’s defection would deal a significant blow to the PDP’s presence in the Niger Delta and further consolidate APC’s dominance in the region ahead of the 2027 elections.

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