Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Joins APC After Dumping PDP

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) after dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Vice President Kashim Shettima led a delegation of senior APC leaders to Yenagoa to welcome Governor Douye Diri into the ruling party.

Among those present were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno.

The venue was packed with cheering party supporters waving APC flags and chanting slogans to mark Diri’s defection, a major political shift in a state that has long been seen as a PDP stronghold.

Diri’s move comes as part of a broader wave of defections by key PDP figures to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

So far this year, four PDP governors, including those of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Enugu, have switched allegiance to the APC.

KanyiDaily recalls that Governor Douye Diri first announced his resignation from the PDP on October 15 during a meeting at the Executive Council Chamber in Government House, Yenagoa.

He also revealed that all local government chairmen in the state would join him in his new party. His decision was immediately endorsed by 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Abraham Ngobere.

Out of the 24-member Assembly, 20 were elected on the PDP platform, three on the APC ticket, and one under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Diri’s defection comes at a turbulent time for the PDP, which has been engulfed in a deep leadership crisis.

Last weekend, National Chairman Umar Damagum and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) suspended several key officials, including National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature.

In response, Anyanwu’s faction announced the suspension of Damagum, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and other top figures.

By Monday, the crisis deepened as the Anyanwu-led group, with Abdulrahman Mohammed acting as National Chairman, took over the PDP national secretariat while Damagum’s loyalists stayed away.