Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has officially withdrawn his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His media aide, Daniel Alabrah, confirmed the development on Wednesday but did not provide any reasons for the governor’s decision to leave the party. He also declined to mention whether Diri plans to join another political platform such as the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Okay News gathered that the resignation has created a ripple effect across the Bayelsa political scene, as all PDP members in the State House of Assembly, as well as Commissioners in the State Executive Council, have also stepped down from the party.
Reports indicate that Governor Diri is presently meeting with top state executive members to discuss the situation. The Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, is also said to be attending the meeting.
Earlier in the day, Diri and former President Goodluck Jonathan were seen together at the commissioning of the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa. The two share a long political relationship — Diri once served as Commissioner during Jonathan’s time as Bayelsa governor.
Before becoming governor, Diri worked as Principal Secretary to then-Governor Seriake Dickson and was later elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 2015 under the PDP banner. He went on to serve as Senator for Bayelsa Central in 2019.
Douye Diri assumed office as Governor of Bayelsa State in 2020 following a Supreme Court ruling and secured re-election under the PDP in 2023. His sudden resignation marks a significant political shift in Bayelsa ahead of the next election cycle.
