All eight local government chairmen in Bayelsa State have resigned their membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and pledged allegiance to Governor Douye Diri, following his recent decision to leave the party.
The council chairmen, in a joint statement issued on Wednesday after an emergency meeting in Yenagoa, said their decision was driven by loyalty to the governor’s leadership and their belief in his developmental vision for the state.
According to the statement, the chairmen described Governor Diri as a “leader of integrity and performance” whose exit from the PDP marked a new political direction for Bayelsa.
They said, “We, the eight local government chairmen of Bayelsa State, hereby announce our resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We have collectively resolved to align ourselves with Governor Douye Diri in his new political journey. Our loyalty is to the progress and peace of Bayelsa, and we firmly believe that the governor represents that path.”
The chairmen, who also lauded Diri’s “inclusive governance style and people-oriented policies,” expressed readiness to work with him in any political platform he chooses, assuring him of grassroots support across the state.
Political analysts say the mass defection could significantly alter Bayelsa’s political landscape, given the PDP’s long dominance in the state since its creation in 1996.
A senior PDP member in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the development as “a serious blow” to the party, noting that efforts were underway to reconcile aggrieved members and rebuild confidence ahead of future elections.
Governor Diri, who recently announced his resignation from the PDP citing the need to “pursue a broader coalition for Bayelsa’s progress,” has yet to formally declare his next political affiliation.
However, his loyalists hint that consultations are ongoing with leaders across major political blocs in the state, suggesting that the governor’s next move may shape the future of Bayelsa’s political alignment.
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