Governor Diri’s Defection in Limbo as Push for APC to Dissolve Bayelsa Exco Stalls

Governor Diri’s Defection in Limbo as Push for APC to Dissolve Bayelsa Exco Stalls

 

 

The anticipated defection of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to have hit a major roadblock, as negotiations between the governor and the ruling party have stalled.

 

What began two weeks ago with political fanfare and speculation has now quieted down, leaving the governor’s next political move uncertain. According to sources, Diri’s attempt to fast-track his entry into the APC has been met with internal resistance and a complex web of party power struggles.

 

Negotiations Hit the Rocks

After resigning from the PDP, Diri reportedly reached out to the APC National Headquarters in Abuja to discuss arrangements for his formal reception into the party. However, he was directed to engage first with the Bayelsa State leadership of the APC, a move that has proven more complicated than expected.

 

The state APC is currently divided between two major power blocs led by Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and former Minister of State for Petroleum and ex-Governor Timipre Sylva. Both men command significant influence within the party and are believed to be vying for control of its structure in the state.

 

A top APC source told News Week Nigeria that while several members of Diri’s political team have already joined the party, the governor himself has been hesitant to proceed without assurances.

 

“He wants the National Working Committee (NWC) to dissolve the current state exco and replace it with a caretaker committee before his defection,” the source revealed. “But with party congresses scheduled for December, many of us wonder why there’s such a rush.”

 

Power Tussle Within Bayelsa APC

The stalled defection has brought to light long-standing rivalries within the Bayelsa APC. Sylva’s camp argues that his previous governorship campaigns and ministerial roles position him as the natural leader of the party, while Lokpobiri’s supporters insist that as a serving minister, he holds the upper hand.

 

Governor Diri’s entry, originally seen as a boost for the APC in Bayelsa, now risks deepening these internal divisions. Fearing being trapped between the two factions, Diri has reportedly delayed further discussions until the national convention in December, when the fate of the current state executive might be decided.

 

Tension Within PDP Ranks

Back home, Diri’s resignation has unsettled the political landscape. Many within the PDP, including his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, have refused to follow him out of the party. Ewhrudjakpo, known for his loyalty to former Governor and current Senator Seriake Dickson, has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP, earning praise from party loyalists.

 

Sources disclosed that the deputy governor’s refusal to defect initially sparked impeachment threats, but those plans have since been abandoned as the political situation remains uncertain.

 

“The governor seems helpless to move against his deputy for now,” one insider noted. “Doing so could plunge the state into crisis, especially since his own defection is not yet official.”

 

Governor Diri’s Whereabouts

Amid the growing uncertainty, Governor Diri is said to have travelled abroad for rest. A government source, however, dismissed speculations linking the trip to the political stalemate, insisting it was a “routine private visit.”

 

A Waiting Game

For now, both camps, the PDP and APC, appear to be in a holding pattern. The APC is unwilling to dissolve its existing structures, while Diri is reluctant to commit without a clear pathway to leadership within his new party.