In a major political development that has sent shockwaves through Bayelsa State’s political landscape, Governor Douye Diri and 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly have officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was confirmed today by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, who described the move as a “strategic decision aimed at aligning with a broader national vision for sustainable development and political stability.”
Governor Diri, who has been a key PDP figure in the South-South region, reportedly took the decision after a series of consultations with stakeholders within and outside the state. Sources within Government House, Yenagoa, said the defection was motivated by the Governor’s desire to work more closely with the Federal Government to attract greater investments and infrastructural projects to Bayelsa.
“This decision was not taken lightly. His Excellency believes that joining the APC provides a stronger platform to deliver on his administration’s agenda of peace, prosperity, and progress for the people of Bayelsa State,” Alabrah stated.
The mass defection, which includes 23 out of the 24 state lawmakers, effectively gives the APC a commanding majority in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and marks a dramatic realignment of political forces in the Niger Delta.
Political analysts say the move could significantly reshape the dynamics of Bayelsa politics ahead of the 2026 general elections and strengthen the APC’s foothold in the South-South region, traditionally dominated by the PDP.
Governor Diri is expected to make a formal declaration of his new party affiliation at a grand rally in Yenagoa later this week, with top APC national leaders in attendance.
