Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Resigns From PDP

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking another significant defection ahead of the 2027 general elections. The announcement was made on Wednesday at the Executive Council chamber of the Bayelsa State Government House.

Diri, who addressed state officials and party leaders, stated that his decision was guided by “an obvious reason” but declined to specify the political party he would be joining.

“After extensive consultations, today, October 15, 2025, I wish to notify you that, in keeping with the extant protocols, I, Governor Douye Diri, do hereby resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he said.

The deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, was absent during the announcement, but Diri explained that officials who could not attend were away on official assignments. He added that chairmen of all local government areas in the state would accompany him in his next political move.

The announcement was backed by 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Abraham Ngobere, although only 10 members were present during the session. The 24-member House comprises 20 PDP lawmakers, three All Progressives Congress (APC) members, and one All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) representative. Ngobere told journalists that the PDP lacks the capacity to field a presidential candidate capable of winning in 2027.

Defections Shake Opposition Landscape

Diri’s resignation comes just a day after Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah left the PDP for the APC, a move he described as motivated by his desire to better serve the people rather than as a betrayal.

“This is not a betrayal; it is also not abandoning. It is more about carrying the people’s mandate on a platform that will best serve them,” Mbah said in his official announcement on Tuesday.

The Bayelsa and Enugu defections follow similar moves earlier this year by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, who also joined the ruling APC along with their officials and appointees.

PDP leadership has expressed disappointment over the spate of defections. Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, said the party was aware of internal actors undermining its progress. He, however, assured that the PDP national convention scheduled for November in Ibadan, Oyo State, would help rejuvenate the party and reposition it for upcoming elections.

Read also: Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah Officially Defects to APC

“There are some people from within our fold that continue to undermine the party and its progress. We recognise that, but we are dealing with that,” Ologunagba stated during a Channels Television interview on Wednesday.

On the other hand, President Bola Tinubu welcomed defectors into the APC, describing the disarray in opposition parties as a natural outcome of their internal crises.

Speaking at the National Assembly during Democracy Day commemorations, Tinubu said: “Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist. It is indeed a pleasure to witness opposition parties in such disarray.”

Once Diri’s defection is formally received by the APC leadership, the number of PDP governors in the South-East and South-South will drop to one, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, and eight nationwide, signaling a major shift in the political balance ahead of the 2027 elections.