In a significant political realignment, Vice President Kashim Shettima and state governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are scheduled to be in Yenagoa on Monday to formally receive Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, into the ruling party.

The event marks Governor Diri’s official defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following his resignation on October 15. He becomes the fourth PDP governor to cross over to the APC in recent months, after the governors of Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Enugu states.

Internal Party Dissent Overshadows Celebration

However, the high-profile reception is marred by significant internal discontent within the Bayelsa APC. Yekini Nabena, a former deputy national publicity secretary of the party, has publicly criticized the circumstances of the governor’s entry.

Nabena alleged that Diri’s camp is attempting to “destroy the existing leadership of the APC in Bayelsa state” to take full control of the party structure. He cited rumors of the arrest of the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, as part of this alleged plot.

“We have not found an answer to the question of what Governor Douye Diri is bringing to the APC,” Nabena stated, pointing out that the governor’s deputy and about 90% of the state’s National Assembly members are not defecting with him. He also accused Diri of plotting to impeach his deputy.

Court Sacks Defecting Lawmaker in Parallel Case

In a related development that underscores the legal perils of defection, the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Rep. Abubakar Gummi of Zamfara State for defecting from the PDP to the APC.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a stern judgment, declared that Gummi automatically lost his seat upon defection, as there was no division in the PDP to justify his move. The judge ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election for the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency within 30 days.

In a powerful rebuke, Justice Egwuatu condemned the culture of political defection, calling it “political prostitution.” He ordered Rep. Gummi to refund all salaries and allowances collected since his defection and awarded N500,000 in costs against him.

A Widening Political Realignment

The defection trend appears to be continuing, with Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, also confirming he is “on his way to the APC.” Governor Kefas stated that his decision was driven by the need to align Taraba with the national government for greater development and improved security.

The simultaneous high-profile defection and the court’s forceful judgment highlight the ongoing political turbulence in Nigeria, where the APC is consolidating power in the oil-rich South-South while the judiciary attempts to enforce constitutional consequences for party switching.