Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State officially resigned his membership from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, triggering a significant political realignment in the South-South region.
The announcement was made during a meeting at the Executive Council Chamber of the Bayelsa State Government House, ending months of speculation regarding his political future. The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, confirmed the development via social media, noting that the resignation was effective immediately.
Governor Diri’s departure from the PDP was swiftly followed by a mass exodus of lawmakers. Reports indicate that 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Abraham Ingobere, immediately backed the Governor’s decision, resigning their own party membership.
While Governor Diri has not publicly announced his next political affiliation, the move is widely viewed as a precursor to joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). His resignation comes barely 24 hours after his counterpart in Enugu State, Peter Mbah, also defected from the PDP to the APC, further depleting the opposition party’s control across the country.
When contacted for comment on the sudden shift, the Governor’s spokesperson, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, was brief and reserved, stating only: “I cannot talk now.”
The move has reduced the number of states controlled by the PDP and placed Bayelsa State—a traditionally strong base for the party—under an uncertain political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. The shift means the ruling APC is poised to control a vast majority of states in the oil-rich South-South geopolitical zone.
