After many weeks of speculations, the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, and 23 lawmakers from the state house of assembly have formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Diri and the lawmakers’ defection to the ruling party came barely 24 hours after his Enugu state counterpart, Peter Mbah, and his aides left the opposition party over the PDP’s inability to resolve its lingering leadership crisis.
Aside from serving public officerholders, a former lawmaker from the state and owner of Silverbird group, Ben Murray-Bruce, has joined the governor and the assembly members to leave the PDP for the APC.
Announcing his defection on Wednesday at the State house in Yenegoa, Diri described the decision to leave the opposition party as “obvious reasons.”
During the declaration witnessed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, his deputy, Michael Ogbere, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) minority leader, Edward Brigidi and seven other lawmake, the governor stressed that the decision was taken after extensive consultation with leaders of the state.
He expressed gratitude to his supporters, who he said have stood firmly with him and his government, and urged them to continue as he builds a strong and virile Bayelsa.
His words: “Today, I wish to address a matter that has been the subject of speculation and debate across party lines in Bayelsa State and beyond. We allowed the speculations. But while it lasted, we were also doing our consultation.
“After extensive consultation, today the 15th day of October 2025, I wish to formally notify you that in keeping with the extant protocols, I Governor Douye Diri, do hereby resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“I am not resigning alone as you can see. I am here with Mr. Speaker, Deputy Speaker and all the members of our party (in the Assembly) who are with me on this.
“So, today, I have formally resigned from the PDP for very obvious reasons.”
Lending his voice, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, said he, his deputy, other PDP, APGA and APC members of the assembly completely align with the governor’s decision to leave the party.
Ingobere, who referred to the governor as the leader of the political structure of the state, said he was not alone in his decision as he had the backing of the overwhelming majority of 21 of the 24-member assembly.
Earlier, Murray-Bruce, who expressing confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and the direction of his administration’s economic and governance reforms, said his decision was driven by conviction rather than politics, describing President Tinubu as a leader “driven by results, not applause.”
He revealed that he had known the President since 1998 and could personally attest to his courage, intellect, and commitment to national progress.
The former lawmaker announced his defection in a statement released today, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, declaring his decision to join the APC after what he described as a careful assessment of President Tinubu’s policies and performance over the past year.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, we have a President who truly understands finance, who sees the economy not as a political slogan but as a living organism that must be disciplined, deregulated, and allowed to breathe,” the former senator said.
He commended the Tinubu administration’s ongoing economic and security reforms, noting that while the changes may be painful, they represent “the foundation of tomorrow’s prosperity.”
Murray-Bruce highlighted improvements in national security coordination, Central Bank operations, and Nigeria’s foreign policy posture, adding that “the world is watching Nigeria rise again.”
According to him, the deregulation of the fuel sector has ended years of scarcity, while renewed investor confidence is driving economic recovery.
He also praised the President’s infrastructural agenda, describing it as “unprecedented,” with major projects across roads, ports, airports, and housing contributing to national development.
“I know it is still a difficult season for many families,” he said, “but reform is never painless. Yet, it is in these moments of sacrifice that nations are reborn.”
Murray-Bruce concluded by affirming his faith in Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria, stating that his defection to the APC was motivated by a belief in progress and reform.
“That is why today, I am joining the All Progressives Congress, not for politics, but for progress,” he declared. “I choose to stand with that vision. I choose to stand with reform. I choose to stand with the future.”
