Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Vice President Kashim Shettima led a high-powered APC delegation to Yenagoa on Monday for the governor’s official reception into the party.
Also present at the ceremony were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Channels reports.
The event drew a massive crowd of supporters waving party flags and chanting slogans to welcome Diri into the APC fold.
Diri’s defection follows a string of high-profile movements from the PDP to the ruling party in the buildup to the 2027 general elections. This year alone, the opposition party has lost four governors — Diri of Bayelsa, Oborevwori of Delta, Eno of Akwa Ibom, and Peter Mbah of Enugu.
The Bayelsa governor had earlier announced his resignation from the PDP on October 15 during a meeting at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House in Yenagoa, citing “obvious reasons” for his decision.
“After extensive consultations, today, 15 October 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,” Diri stated.
He, however, stopped short of immediately naming the party he was joining at the time but confirmed that all local government chairmen in the state would defect alongside him.
Keyamo welcomes Diri’s defection, says APC now dominant in South-South
Diri’s exit received swift endorsement from 23 of the 24 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Abraham Ngobere.
Ten lawmakers were present at the announcement.
The Assembly is currently made up of 20 PDP members, three from the APC, and one from the All Progressives Grand Alliance.