Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Resigns from PDP, Joins APC Trend

Strategic Insights -

As the party continues to lose grip on state governments, Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri on Wednesday announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a trend of defections by state governors. This move comes after Enugu state Governor Peter Mbah defected to the APC, with Taraba state Governor Agbu Kefas also rumored to be on the way out.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri resigned from the PDP, citing "obvious reasons" for his decision.
  • Diri's decision was made after extensive consultation with leaders of the state and follows a similar defection by Enugu state Governor Peter Mbah to the APC.
  • Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, a former federal lawmaker from Bayelsa state, also announced his resignation from the PDP and joined the APC, praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's leadership.
  • Immediate past Governor of Bayelsa state, Senator Seriake Dickson, reacted to Diri's defection, accusing governors who defected to the APC of running away from the mess created by them.

Senator Dickson stated that Nigeria deserves functional and vibrant multiparty democracy, and not a one-party system that breeds dictatorship and authoritarianism. He further expressed his support for the nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

  • Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said he is being vindicated by the wave of defection to the APC, stating that the ongoing political alignment and realignment is a testament to President Tinubu's "visionary and pragmatic leadership".
  • Governor Mohammed of Bauchi state expressed concern over the spate of defection, stating it has unsettled the party, though efforts are being made to keep the party united ahead of the national convention.

Statistics:

  • The APC has gained 2 state governors, with Bayelsa and possibly Taraba joining the party.
  • The PDP currently has 8 state governors left, down from 12 that were elected on the party's platform.
  • 3 state governors have defected from the PDP to the APC in recent times, with Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed expressing concern over the development.

Sources:

  • Newsspread: Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Resigns from PDP, Joins APC Trend
  • Sunnewsonline: Enugu Governor Mbah Officially Dumps PDP for APC
  • Vanguardnews: Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, Joins APC
  • Leadership.ng: Senator Dickson Accuses Governors Who Defected to APC of Running Away from Mess
  • Punchng: Wike Says He's Being Vindicated by APC Defections
  • DailyTrust: Bauchi Governor Raises Concern Over Spate of Defection
  • Nigeria news: Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce Announces Resignation from PDP