Bayelsa PDP Lawmakers Back Governor Diri’s Defection to APC

Bayelsa PDP Lawmakers Back Governor Diri’s Defection to APC

 

 

Bayelsa State lawmakers from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State House of Assembly have endorsed Governor Douye Diri’s planned defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

Out of the 24-member House, 19 lawmakers belong to the PDP, while five are members of the opposition.

 

Sources familiar with developments in the state legislature disclosed that a majority of these PDP lawmakers have given their blessing to Governor Diri’s move after a closed-door consultation initiated by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ngobere.

 

According to insiders, the endorsement came after the governor instructed Speaker Ngobere to discreetly gauge the mood among lawmakers regarding his intention to switch parties. This directive followed what was described as an “unfruitful” consultation with the National Assembly caucus of Bayelsa State, where key figures like Hon. Fred Agbedi (representing Sagbama/Ekeremor) reportedly rejected the move.

 

Agbedi is said to be opposed to the defection due to concerns over political realignment, particularly fears that the move would cede local political leadership to Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the current Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and a prominent APC figure.

 

Despite resistance from the National Assembly lawmakers, Diri—who recently traveled to France with Speaker Ngobere—remained committed to moving forward with the plan. A private meeting was said to have been held at the Speaker’s residence, during which most PDP lawmakers in the State Assembly endorsed the governor’s decision. They reportedly described the PDP as being in crisis and unable to secure their political future, thus supporting the switch as a strategic move for long-term stability.

 

“Yes, the Speaker has called us and we have met. The truth is that we are moving. We have given our consent to the governor. It is no longer a secret that we are leaving PDP,” a lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Sunday Sun.

However, not all lawmakers were in support of the move. Three PDP legislators were said to have rejected the defection plan—two from Sagbama Local Government Area and one from Kolokuma/Opokuma—arguing that the timing was not appropriate.

 

 

Reacting to inquiries about the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Mr. Domo Adams, denied knowledge of such a gathering, stating he was hearing of it for the first time. Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Wisdom Fafi, also claimed he was unaware of any such deliberation.