Bayelsa Governor Duoye Diri finally defects to APC

Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, was filled with excitement as Governor Douye Diri and his supporters were formally welcomed into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Supporters from all eight local government areas trooped into the city early Saturday morning despite heavy rain, dancing and singing through the streets. By 10 a.m., the Samson Siasia Stadium was packed beyond capacity, forcing security officials to restrict entry for safety reasons.

Governor Diri’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC ended weeks of speculation about his next political move. The event drew several political heavyweights, including Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Orimisan Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), alongside former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh, and Diri’s predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa.