Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, on Wednesday announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ending his long-standing affiliation with the party that produced him as governor in 2020.
Diri made the announcement during an executive meeting held at the Exco Chamber of the Bayelsa Government House in Yenagoa. The governor, however, did not disclose his next political destination.
“After wide consultations and careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party,” Diri said. “This decision is in the best interest of our state and our people.”
His decision was immediately backed by 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, who pledged their loyalty to the governor.
The development came barely 24 hours after Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC), fuelling speculation of a widening wave of defections among opposition governors.
Sources within the Bayelsa political circle said Diri’s exit did not come as a total surprise, following weeks of quiet tension between the governor’s camp and the PDP national leadership.
A senior aide to the governor, who asked not to be named, said Diri’s resignation “signals a new political direction” for the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The governor has taken a bold step. This is more than just party politics, it’s about redefining Bayelsa’s place in the national power structure,” the aide told newsmen.
As of press time, the PDP national secretariat had yet to issue an official response. Party insiders, however, said emergency consultations were ongoing to prevent further cracks within the opposition’s southern bloc.
Meanwhile, political analysts say the exit of two sitting governors within 48 hours could deepen the crisis within the PDP and reshape the 2027 political landscape.
“This is a significant blow to the PDP’s southern base,” said Dr. Amaka Erewari, a political commentator. “If Diri joins the APC, it could trigger a chain reaction across the Niger Delta.”
While speculation mounts that Diri may be heading to the APC, sources close to the governor said discussions are still “at exploratory stages.”
For now, Bayelsans are left guessing as their governor once one of PDP’s most loyal sons, begins a new political chapter whose direction may well redefine the state’s alliances ahead of the next general elections.
