Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has officially announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a significant development that resonates across the Nigerian political landscape. The announcement was made on Wednesday during a cabinet meeting held at the Government House in Yenagoa, the state capital, and subsequently confirmed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, through a post on his verified social media handle.

Governor Diri explicitly stated his departure from the opposition party was for “very obvious reasons,” extending his gratitude to supporters and expressing his commitment to fostering a “strong, virile Bayelsa state and a strong and virile country by extension.” This pivotal move comes swiftly, barely 24 hours after the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, similarly defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The mass exodus from the PDP extends beyond the governor himself, with various reports indicating a substantial number of lawmakers and cabinet members also resigning. Arise TV initially reported that Governor Diri joined the APC alongside 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. Other accounts provided differing figures: SaharaReporters indicated that 17 members of the House of Assembly and two lawmakers from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) tendered their resignations. Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria and Daily Trust reported that all 19 members of the State House of Assembly from the PDP, including Speaker Abraham Ingobere, alongside members of the state executive council, had resigned their party memberships. While there is a strong expectation among residents for a move to the APC, Governor Diri’s spokesman did not explicitly state his new party affiliation, nor did Governor Diri himself in his public remarks, leaving his precise political destination officially unconfirmed, though widely speculated.

This recent wave of defections is consistent with a broader trend observed in Nigerian politics, where numerous federal and state lawmakers have transitioned from opposition parties to the APC in anticipation of the 2027 general elections. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu, explaining his defection, stated that his decision was motivated by a desire to more effectively serve the people of Enugu and to align with a platform he believed would best facilitate development and progress. He refuted claims of betrayal, asserting that his action was about fulfilling the people’s mandate on an optimally serving platform, following extensive consultations.

Further context to Governor Diri’s resignation includes an earlier report from May 2025 by SaharaReporters, which detailed the dismissal of at least 27 political aides. These aides were reportedly sanctioned for their participation in the inauguration of a grassroots political movement, The NEW Associates, and for attending a mega rally in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, hinting at underlying political pressures that may have preceded this major party change.

Senator Douye Diri has a deep-rooted political history within the PDP, having previously served as a Commissioner during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure as Bayelsa State governor, and subsequently as Principal Secretary to his predecessor, Governor Seriake Dickson. He was elected as a House of Representatives member in 2015 and a Senator for Bayelsa Central in 2019, both under the PDP banner. He ascended to the governorship of Bayelsa in 2020 and was re-elected under the same party in 2023. Following Governor Diri’s exit, the Peoples Democratic Party now controls eight states across the country.