Nigeria’s political landscape was jolted on Wednesday after Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri announced his resignation from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), triggering a wave of defections among state officials.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Diri made the announcement during a State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Yenagoa.
In a coordinated move, all 19 PDP members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly — including the Speaker, Abraham Ingobere — and members of the state executive council also resigned from the party.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, confirmed the resignations on his verified social media page.
Observers expect Diri and his supporters to formally join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming days.
The development follows Tuesday’s announcement by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who also left the PDP for the APC. Mbah explained that his decision was guided by consultations and a desire to pursue his people’s mandate on a platform that could “serve them optimally.”
“This is not a betrayal,” Mbah said. “It is about ensuring that the people’s trust is carried forward under a stronger platform.”
The near-simultaneous exits of two PDP governors have raised questions about the stability of Nigeria’s main opposition party and could significantly reshape the country’s political alliances ahead of future elections.
