Opposition Suffers More Defections As Bayelsa Gov Douye Diri Dumps PDP
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Diri, who announced this on Wednesday at the exco chamber in the Bayelsa State Government House.
He said his decision was for an obvious reason, but did not state the reason or the political party to which he will be moving.
“After extensive consultations, today, October 15, 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,” he announced.
The Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, was absent, but the governor said all those not present at the meeting were on official assignments.
He also stated that the chairmen of all the local government areas will move with him.
His decision was backed by 23 members of the House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Abraham Ngobere.
The meeting was attended by 10 members of the House of Assembly.
The 24-member House of Assembly has 20 PDP lawmakers, three All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, and one member from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The Speaker said the PDP does not have the ability to present a presidential candidate and win the 2027 election.
Diri’s defection came 24 hours after his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mbah officially dumped the PDP for the APC on Tuesday during a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state.
He said the move was driven by the need to better serve the interests of the people of the state, and not a betrayal.
“It is more about thinking I was entrusted with the people’s mandate by the people, and it is also a cost on me carrying that same mandate on a platform that will best serve the people,” the governor told journalists shortly after announcing his defection.
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The two governors’ defection came months after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, moved to the ruling party with all their officials and appointees earlier in the year.
Also, A former member of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has announced his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Murray-Bruce, who was elected to the Senate in 2015 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), represented Bayelsa East until 2019.
In a statement shared on social media on Wednesday, the former lawmaker explained that his decision to join the APC is not driven by politics, but by his support for the progress being made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He described Tinubu’s current reforms as “painful,” but emphasised that they are laying the groundwork for future prosperity.
Murray-Bruce’s announcement coincided with that of his state governor, Douye Diri, who also declared his defection to the APC on Wednesday.
