Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was hit in its underbelly again yesterday with the resignation of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri from its fold.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, at a well-attended event with Vice President Kashim Shettima in attendance, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Diri, who served as chairman of the PDP’s zoning committee ahead of next month’s convention until yesterday, announced that he had resigned his membership of the PDP forthwith.
Although he did not state which party he is joining, sources said he is heading for the APC.
He said: “After extensive consultation, today, the 15th day of October 2025, I wish to formally notify you that in keeping with the extant protocols, I, Governor Douye Diri, do hereby resign my membership of the PDP.
“I am not resigning alone, as you can see. I am here with Mr Speaker, Deputy Speaker and all the members of our party (in the Assembly) who are with me on this.
“So, I have formally resigned from the PDP for very obvious reasons.”
Apart from the House of Assembly members, those of the state executive council have also resigned from the PDP.
But Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was not with the governor when he announced he was leaving the party.
It was learnt that he had not made up his mind on whether to follow the governor out of the party that brought them into power.
Diri’s action got the backing of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who urged him to complete the process by joining the APC without hesitation.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike also endorsed Diri’s exit from the PDP.
But Diri’s immediate predecessor, Sen. Seriake Dickson and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi faulted the governor’s action.
Also yesterday, Sen. Ben Murray Bruce, who represented Bayelsa East, defected from the PDP to the APC.
Apart from Lokpobiri, other APC leaders in Bayelsa, such as former Governor-elect Mr. David Lyon, former Deputy Governor-elect Senator Degi Eremienyo, Osomkime Blankson and Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, welcomed the governor’s resignation.
