Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State have expressed their rejection of Governor Douye Diri’s alleged plan to defect to their party. They believe that Governor Diri’s interest in aligning with the APC is linked to the ongoing dispute over the 2023 Bayelsa governorship at the State Election Petition Tribunal.
The APC leaders cautioned President Bola Tinubu against any alliance with Governor Diri, emphasizing that they do not need him to win the governorship if the president supports their reconciliation efforts.
Samuel Yousuo, chairman of the APC Stakeholders Forum in Bayelsa State, and Ebigoni Gabriel, the secretary, spoke to the press in Asaba, Delta State’s capital. They raised concerns about Governor Diri’s alleged collaboration with President Buhari’s aides, facilitated by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.
The leaders claimed that Governor Diri worked against President Tinubu’s interests in the 2023 presidential polls and accused him of already planning for the 2027 elections with certain northern PDP members. They expressed doubts about Governor Diri’s trustworthiness and mocked his lack of political influence within the PDP, stating that no significant political leaders would defect with him to the APC.
In response to these allegations, Governor Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alaibrah, dismissed them as baseless. He argued that the APC was weakened after their defeat in the polls and questioned why Governor Diri would consider defecting after securing a second term. Alaibrah dismissed the APC’s petition at the tribunal as insignificant and stated that Governor Diri had no reason to fear removal.
He emphasized Governor Diri’s popularity among the people of Bayelsa State and suggested that the individuals making these claims were unknown and driven by ulterior motives. He also questioned the authority of these individuals to dictate the president’s alliances.