2 weeks ago
8
The defection of 2 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) wrong 48 hours has generated varied reactions from Nigerians. While immoderate stakeholders said the governors’ actions bash not bode good for Nigeria’s democracy, others person described the moves arsenic politically expedient.
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah formally defected from the PDP to the APC connected Tuesday, portion his Bayelsa State counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, dumped the enactment connected Wednesday.
While Mbah blamed the protracted situation successful the PDP for his departure, Diri has yet to authorities his reasons for resigning from the erstwhile ruling party.
Earlier this year, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno and his Delta State counterpart, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, besides near the party, citing lingering crises wrong the PDP.
Accompanying the governors to the ruling enactment are galore national and authorities lawmakers who person besides abandoned the PDP.
With the defection of 4 PDP governors, the party’s power of states has dropped to eight, portion the fig of APC-controlled states has swelled to 25.
Meanwhile, much PDP governors are expected to defect to the APC, including Agbu Kefas of Taraba State.
At the tallness of the party’s dominance betwixt 2007 and 2011, the PDP had nary less than 31 governors.
Governor Diri, 19 Lawmakers Resign from PDP, to Formally Join APC connected 18 October
Governor Diri announced his resignation from the PDP, ending weeks of speculation implicit his governmental future.
The politician made this known astatine Wednesday’s State Executive Council (SEC) gathering astatine the Government House successful Yenagoa.
The development, which amazed many, was made nationalist by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, successful a Facebook station connected his verified societal media handle.
Announcing his resignation, Diri said, “I privation to resign my rank successful the Peoples Democratic Party, and I’m not going to resign alone. As you tin see, I americium present with Mr Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and each the members of our enactment who volition resign with me.
“Some are not present due to the fact that they are connected authoritative assignment. Today, I person formally resigned from my rank of the Peoples Democratic Party for self-evident reasons.”
The politician thanked friends and supporters who person stood by him implicit the years.
“I privation to convey each of you again, and together, we volition proceed to physique a beardown and viable Bayelsa State and a beardown and viable state by extension,” helium said.
Also, 17 members of the State House of Assembly from the PDP, including the Speaker, Mr Abraham Ingobere, and the Deputy Speaker, Hon Michael Ogbara, alongside 2 members from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), each resigned their rank of the PDP.
Members of the State Executive Council person besides resigned from the PDP.
The wide defection marks 1 of the biggest governmental shake-ups successful the state’s history, raising questions astir the aboriginal of the PDP successful Bayelsa, which has been its stronghold since 1999.
Meanwhile, an adjutant to the politician who spoke anonymously revealed that 2 serving commissioners were preparing to defect to the APC.
He said, “They person already removed PDP flags astatine the Government House, and I deliberation the APC emblem volition soon beryllium raised.”
He further disclosed that Governor Diri and different officials who resigned from the PDP would beryllium formally accepted into the APC connected Saturday, 18 October 2025.
Although the authoritative venue has not been announced, the adjutant suggested that the lawsuit would hap astatine the Oxbow Lake Pavilion successful Yenagoa.
The root besides noted that Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was absent during the State Executive Council gathering astatine which Governor Diri announced his resignation from the PDP.
He described the lawman governor’s lack arsenic a wide motion that helium would not travel the politician to the APC.
Similarly, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has besides defected from the PDP to the APC. In a Facebook post, helium said, “I americium joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), not for politics, but for advancement — due to the fact that I judge that Bola Tinubu’s leadership, guided by courageousness and intellect, volition present the Nigeria we person each dreamed of.”
PDP Governors Running Away from the Mess They Created – Dickson
Hours aft Governor Diri near the PDP, his predecessor Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) accused him and different defectors of moving distant from the messiness they created.
The senator, who admitted that Governor Diri consulted him respective times astir his program to dump the PDP, said helium was ne'er convinced, arsenic determination was nary compelling crushed — peculiarly for a second-term politician — to permission the party.
According to him, Nigeria, being a ...
English (US) ·