In a dramatic political realignment, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), making four out of five Southsouth states under APC control. The historic event took place at a grand rally at the Samson Siasia Sports Arena in Yenagoa, drawing thousands of jubilant supporters.

Governor Diri received the APC flag from National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Diri, describing the move as the Ijaw nation aligning with APC, said it marked a “new dawn” for Bayelsa and the Southsouth region.

The defection saw a significant portion of Bayelsa’s political structure follow Diri into the APC, including two senators, the House of Assembly Speaker, commissioners, advisers, grassroots mobilisers, and party stalwarts. Twenty-three members of the 24-member Bayelsa House of Assembly also endorsed the move.

Vice President Shettima praised Diri’s leadership, highlighting his development initiatives, including road construction, electricity projects, and social programs across remote communities. APC leaders emphasized that Diri’s entry strengthens the party’s position in the Southsouth ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Bayelsa has long been a PDP stronghold, producing four governors on the party platform—including Goodluck Jonathan, who later became Nigeria’s president. The state’s pivot to APC represents a significant shift in geopolitical dynamics in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Governor Diri explained his defection was motivated by the need to protect Bayelsa’s interests. He criticized the PDP for being “hijacked by undertakers” and said joining APC was essential to safeguard the political and developmental future of the state. Diri also cited President Tinubu’s infrastructure initiatives, including the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, Nembe-Brass road, and a N4bn tax waiver, as influencing his decision.

“This defection is not only for Bayelsa but for Ijaws in Ondo, Edo, Delta, and Rivers,” Diri said. He dismissed concerns that leaving the PDP could threaten his mandate, noting that the majority of the House of Assembly supports him, making impeachment impossible.

APC leaders, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, and other governors, welcomed Diri warmly, praising his commitment to peace, unity, and development. National Chairman Yilwatda presented Diri with the party broom, symbolically tasking him with sweeping PDP influence out of the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

With Diri’s defection, APC’s dominance in the Southsouth is solidified, creating a strategic advantage for the party in the Niger Delta and shaping the political landscape ahead of the next general elections.