There is uneasy calm in Bayelsa following the state governor, Senator Douye Diri’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Diri had yesterday, during an expanded State Executive Council meeting attended by the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ngobere, his deputy, Michael Ogbere, and other lawmakers, announced his resignation from the PDP for obvious reasons.

According to him, he was not leaving the PDP alone but going with the Speaker of the House of Assembly and other lawmakers.

“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, October 15, 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.”

However, Diri’s omission of the name of his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the latter’s absence at the meeting is an indication that all is not well between the duo.

It was believed that Ewhrudjakpo, who deliberately stayed away from the meeting, was not happy that he was not carried along when the decision was taken to dump the PDP.

Ewhrudjakpo’s decision not to resign from the PDP is also because of his close relationship with Diri’s predecessor, who is also a benefactor to him and Diri, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.

Dickson and some national assembly members have made it clear to their political associates and followers that they are not resigning from the PDP.

Sources said Diri is not likely to exert pressure on Ewhrudjakpo to defect because he would not want to trigger political tension in the state.

Three lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, namely Godless Oyinke (representing Sagbama 1), which is Dickson’s constituency, Wisdom Fafi (Kolokuma/Opokuma 2), an in-law to Dickson and Ted Elemeforo (Yenagoa constituency III) and deputy Chief Whip, are also not resigning from the PDP.

Ngobere, who gave a glimpse into why they dumped the PDP, commended Diri for deciding to salvage the political career of his associates.

“You are not doing this because of greed. You have no stake in the forthcoming election. I think you have done this to protect your political family. Today, what is happening to our former party, PDP, is clear. We know what happened to the PDP in Plateau. PDP, as it stands, does not have the capacity and strength to produce candidates that will be strong enough to contest elections in this country.” (Daily Sun, but headline rejigged)

• Gov. Diri of Bayelsa State yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the People Democratic Party (PDP) amid pump and pageantry