President Bola Tinubu has officially welcomed Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri into the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his defection as a sign of unity and progress for Nigeria’s democracy.
Gatekeepers News reports that Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President at a ceremony in Yenagoa on Monday, conveyed Tinubu’s message praising Diri’s leadership and developmental strides in Bayelsa.
“The All Progressives Congress is a party of those who believe that progress can only be guaranteed when we stand together,” Tinubu said.
“Governor Douye Diri, your story mirrors that of your people. Politics is about development, not noise or opposition. We are mightily proud of you. You have made the right decision.”
The President lauded the governor’s efforts in promoting peace and expanding infrastructure across the state.
“You have led with calm dignity, yet with deep commitment to development and peace. You have expanded roads to remote communities, built bridges where there were barriers, and brought light where there was darkness. This is what it means to govern with empathy,” Tinubu said.
He described Diri’s move to the APC as “a homecoming to the progressive family.”
“You are now part of a family that thinks and acts together. We welcome you and will support you as the champion you have always been,” he added.
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda also spoke at the event, urging Diri to consolidate the party’s presence in the South-South and ensure a strong showing for Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
The event, held at the Bayelsa State Government House, drew large crowds of APC supporters waving party flags and chanting slogans. Top party figures in attendance included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governor Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Governor Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Governor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom).
Diri’s defection marks a significant political shift in Bayelsa — long regarded as a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He formally resigned from the PDP on October 15, 2025, after what he described as “extensive consultations.” His move was backed by 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Abraham Ngobere.
The Bayelsa governor becomes the fourth PDP governor to join the APC this year, following Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Peter Mbah (Enugu) — in what analysts see as a growing realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
