Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Dumps PDP, Defects to APC with 23 State Lawmakers

The political landscape in Nigeria was shaken on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, as Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The move marks another major blow for the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Diri defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, according to a report by Arise TV.

This high-profile political migration comes barely 24 hours after another PDP governor, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, also formally joined the APC.

Although the full details surrounding the decision remain sketchy, it is widely gathered that Governor Diri and the accompanying lawmakers are preparing to officially and publicly announce their defection to the APC in the coming days.

The recent spate of defections, which has seen several federal and state lawmakers abandon opposition parties for the APC, is widely viewed as political manoeuvring and alignment ahead of the crucial 2027 general elections.