Gov Diri of Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Monday pledged to deliver 99 per cent of votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Diri gave the pledge in Yenagoa at a ceremony to officially welcome him to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The event attracted dignitaries like Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Tinubu, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and other party faithful.
The event marks a major political shift in Bayelsa, a state long considered a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor Diri resigned from the PDP on 15 October 2025, following extensive consultations.
APC Governors in attendance included Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), among others.
Addressing the gathering, the governor said, “I am not a bossy type, I have come to unite us so that we can work together and produce 99 per-cent result in Bayelsa come 2027. I don’t know the opposition from the other side.”
He also recalled the love and support he received from the APC since he decided to switch camps.
According to Diri, he decided to dump the PDP on whose platform he became governor, due to what he described as the direction received from the APC-led Federal Government.
The governor claimed that the government loves the Ijaw people, without explaining what he meant by that.
Describing himself as a team player, he stated that his mission to the APC family in Bayelsa is to unite every party member.
“There is so much we can do together by aligning with the Federal Government that has shown us the will and direction that they love the Izon people, Bayelsa State.
“Don’t let anybody deceive you; anybody telling you otherwise is for his own selfish programme. A lot of people were afraid that maybe there were factions in the APC.
“Since I announced my coming, I have been accepted by the whole of the APC family in Bayelsa. So, I want to thank the APC that have come to me in Bayelsa,” the governor added. (Channels TV)
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