Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri will formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday. This political shift represents a major realignment in Nigeria’s South-South region.
President Bola Tinubu will host the official defection ceremony in Abuja. APC governors and National Working Committee members are expected to attend the event.
Sources confirm Diri resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15. He has since engaged in confidential negotiations with APC leadership. These discussions finalized his transition plans.
An APC insider revealed the delayed announcement had strategic purpose. It ensured smooth integration of PDP members into APC’s Bayelsa structure. This careful approach prevents internal friction before 2027 elections.
The source explained both parties negotiated power-sharing terms. This agreement aims to prevent post-defection conflicts. Diri prioritized proper alignment before his public declaration.
This defection marks a significant APC victory. It weakens PDP’s traditional stronghold in the oil-rich South-South. The opposition party has suffered multiple high-profile exits recently.
Diri joins Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) and Peter Mbah (Enugu). These defections reduced PDP’s governorship count to eight states nationwide. Party leaders fear further erosion of southern influence.
Indications suggest Taraba Governor Agbu Kefas may follow Diri’s path. Such moves would deepen Nigeria’s main opposition party crisis. The PDP faces unprecedented challenges to its political relevance.
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