Bayelsa Stakeholders Urge Governor Diri to Defect to APC

Strategic Insights -

A pressure group, Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum, has urged Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The group's convener, Wisdom Ikuli, a technical adviser to the governor on print media, claims that Bayelsa must align with the APC to avoid electoral risks. Ikuli alleged that PDP figures conspired against the state in 2015, denying it the presidency.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum, a non-partisan group, includes members from various political backgrounds, including non-indigenes.
  • The forum is urging Governor Diri to consider defecting to the APC, citing the need for Bayelsa to align with the government at the centre for development.
  • Ikuli alleged that plans are in place to exploit the PDP's internal crises and litigations to invalidate candidates who emerge from the party ahead of future elections.
  • The governor's spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, dismissed the pressure group's demands, saying it's unrealistic to put pressure on Governor Diri to make such a decision.
  • Alabrah also questioned the claims made by the pressure group's convener, Wisdom Ikuli, and the former executive assistant on public affairs, George Turnah.
  • Turnah, who is now a political ally of Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, and a PDP chieftain, has been mobilising support for Wike and President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
  • The NEW Associates, a political group led by Turnah, organised a pro-Wike rally in Bayelsa in April despite Governor Diri's opposition.

Statistics:

  • 63% of Nigeria's oil wealth comes from the Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region.
  • The state is currently the only PDP state in the South-south region.
  • Governor Diri dismissed speculations in June that he was planning to defect to the APC.

Sources:

*

*

*