As political transfer window continue to grow momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections and in what appears to be another major political setback for the opposition , Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside 19 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, signaling his imminent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reliable sources within the Government House, Yenagoa, confirmed that Governor Diri has completed all formalities, including medical and background checks, ahead of his official declaration to join the ruling APC.
The development comes barely a few days after the Governor of Enugu State officially defected to the APC, a move that the PDP was still struggling to recover from. The back-to-back defections have deepened the crisis within the party, which once prided itself as Nigeria’s strongest opposition bloc.
In his brief address to party supporters and stakeholders, Governor Douye Diri explained that his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was taken after deep reflection and for what he described as “obvious and compelling reasons.”
He noted that recent developments within the PDP had made it difficult for him to continue pursuing his vision for Bayelsa State under the party’s platform.
Diri emphasized that his move was driven by a genuine desire to align with a political structure that would better support his administration’s development agenda and ensure continued progress for the people of Bayelsa.
“His Excellency has completed his medicals and is finalizing arrangements to formalize his membership of the APC. The official announcement will be made in the coming days,” the source confirmed.
The defection of Diri and 19 state lawmakers is expected to significantly alter the political landscape in Bayelsa, a state long regarded as a PDP stronghold in the South-South region.
Political observers say the move could further consolidate the APC’s grip on the Niger Delta ahead of the 2027 general elections, while leaving the PDP scrambling to maintain its influence in the region.
As of press time, the PDP leadership at both the state and national levels had yet to issue an official statement, as the party continues to count its losses and assess the impact of yet another high-profile defection.
