The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Monday, November 9, 2025, formally announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a strategic decision aimed at advancing the development of the state and improving the welfare of its people.
Speaking at a grand reception held in his honour at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa, the governor explained that his decision followed “wide consultations and careful consideration,” emphasizing that it was taken in the collective interest of Bayelsans.
“While the justification for this decision may not be immediately apparent to some, I assure you it was taken in the best interest of our people and for the accelerated development of our state,” Diri stated.
The governor recalled that he resigned from the PDP on October 15, 2025, after years of internal discord within the party.
According to him, the unity and sense of common purpose that once held the PDP together had eroded over time, making meaningful reform increasingly difficult.
Diri expressed gratitude to the national leadership and members of the APC for their warm reception, promising to work with the party’s structures to strengthen its presence in Bayelsa and contribute to its success nationwide.
“Despite our best efforts to restore it, the internal dynamics made renewal almost impossible.
“We will work collaboratively with existing organs to strengthen the party for the serious work ahead, leveraging our collective strengths and goodwill to drive the APC to greater heights.”
Diri lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as his leadership, fairness, and commitment to national development, particularly in the Niger Delta region and pledged his support for Tinubu’s policies and re-election bid in 2027, noting that the President’s fiscal and policy reforms were creating new opportunities for Nigerians.
“I am convinced that the ongoing fiscal and policy restructuring and renewed focus on infrastructure offer opportunities for the collective benefit of Nigerians.
“I pledge to continue working constructively with the Federal Government and to support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027,” the governor said.
Diri described Tinubu as “a friend who sticks closer than a brother,” citing several examples of the President’s support for Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation.
He noted that under Tinubu’s leadership, the long-awaited Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road was finally becoming a reality, promising economic connectivity for Bayelsa and other coastal communities.
He also mentioned the federal approval for the Nembe-Brass Road, a project that had lingered for six decades, and the tax waiver granted on the importation of 60-megawatt gas turbines for the state’s power projects.
Furthermore, he acknowledged the endorsement of the Agge Deep Seaport Project by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing it as a major step toward economic diversification and job creation in the state.
The governor used the occasion to appeal for political tolerance and unity among Bayelsans, stressing that political differences should not divide the people.
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“When debates end and ballots are counted, Bayelsa remains one people with one destiny. Our political choices may differ, but our shared heritage binds us more strongly than any political party.
“Bayelsa is too small and too close-knit to be divided by bitterness. Poverty and underdevelopment do not discriminate by party, they affect everyone,” he added.
Reaffirming his administration’s guiding principles, the governor said his actions had always been driven by consultation, public interest, and tangible results.
He assured Bayelsans that these principles would continue to guide his “Assured Prosperity” government as it works to build a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive state.
Diri ended his address with prayers for Bayelsa State, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and all citizens.
