Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking another major defection from Nigeria’s main opposition party.

The governor made the announcement on Wednesday at the Executive Council Chamber of the Bayelsa State Government House in Yenagoa.

Diri, who did not disclose the political party he intends to join, said his decision to quit the PDP was made “for obvious reasons”, though he did not elaborate on the specific motivations behind his exit.

“My decision is for an obvious reason,” Diri said briefly, adding that “details will be made known in due course.”

His decision, however, received the backing of 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Abraham Ngobere.

Although only 10 lawmakers were physically present at the meeting, the Speaker affirmed that the majority of the Assembly stood behind the governor’s decision.

“The PDP no longer has the ability to present a presidential candidate and win the 2027 election,” Ngobere declared.

The Bayelsa Assembly comprises 24 members — 20 from the PDP, three from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and one from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was notably absent from the meeting, but Governor Diri clarified that those not in attendance were “on official assignments”.

Wave of Defections

Diri’s defection comes just 24 hours after Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah also dumped the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marking yet another setback for the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mbah, who announced his decision during a statewide broadcast on Tuesday, said the move was motivated by a desire to better serve the people of his state.

“This is not a betrayal; it is not abandoning,” Mbah said. “It is about carrying the people’s mandate on a platform that will best serve their interests.”

The Bayelsa and Enugu defections follow similar moves earlier in the year by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, both of whom also crossed over to the APC with their political appointees.

PDP Reacts

Reacting to the latest developments, the PDP expressed disappointment over the growing trend of defections among its sitting governors.

National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, said the party was “utterly disappointed” by Governor Mbah’s defection and, by extension, Diri’s decision.

“People have a right to decide what they want to do, but there are consequences,” Ologunagba said.
“There are some people from within our fold who continue to undermine the party and its progress. We recognise that, and we are dealing with it.”

He, however, expressed optimism that the party’s forthcoming national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, scheduled for November, would help rebuild and reposition the PDP for future elections.