Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending weeks of speculation and marking a major political realignment in the South-South region.
The defection, which took place on Saturday, triggered widespread jubilation across Yenagoa as thousands of residents and APC supporters poured into the streets in a carnival-like celebration to welcome the governor into the party.
Supporters from all eight local government areas of the state defied an early morning downpour to attend the event, donning white T-shirts, party caps, and colourful traditional attires. By 10 a.m., the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, venue of the rally, was filled beyond capacity, prompting security operatives to restrict entry to prevent overcrowding.
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Crowds waved APC flags, sang victory songs, and danced in celebration of what many described as a “historic political moment” for Bayelsa State.
Governor Diri, who resigned from the PDP two weeks earlier, officially declared his defection to the APC before a crowd of political leaders, traditional rulers, and dignitaries at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene, Yenagoa, during the 14th Bayelsa Thanksgiving Day to mark the state’s creation anniversary.
“Somebody had to take the decision, and I took it on behalf of the state. I did it in the best interest of Bayelsa,” Diri stated, noting that the move was driven by his commitment to peace, unity, and development.
He emphasized that politics should be a platform for progress, not division. “Politics is for development, not for destroying one another. The peace and security we are enjoying today are reasons to thank God,” he added.
The event attracted top political figures including Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole, and Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh.
With Diri’s defection, the APC now controls four of the five South-South states previously held by the PDP — Delta, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Bayelsa — consolidating the party’s influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Diri becomes the 25th governor under the APC and the fourth to defect from the PDP this year, in what analysts describe as a significant political boost for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
