- Bayelsa State has plunged into political tension following Governor Douye Diri’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
- His deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, now faces impeachment after refusing to follow suit.
- The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has begun proceedings allegedly influenced by the governor. Ewhrudjakpo has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the move.
Bayelsa State has been thrown into political uncertainty following Governor Douye Diri’s dramatic defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), triggering a deep rift between him and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
The crisis reached a boiling point after the Bayelsa State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Ewhrudjakpo, who has refused to defect alongside his principal. Sources within the Assembly allege that the impeachment move is being driven by forces loyal to the governor, who views the deputy’s continued loyalty to the PDP as a political liability.
In a bid to halt the impeachment, Ewhrudjakpo reportedly approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, filing a suit last week to restrain the Assembly from proceeding with the process.
Speaking on Sunday during the state’s 14th annual thanksgiving service, Governor Diri defended his defection, describing it as a “strategic decision for the greater good of Bayelsa.” He said, “Somebody had to make the decision, and I did it for the good of the state. You may not understand now, but time will tell.”
The governor added that his priority remains “peace, development, and continuity of governance,” emphasizing that political alignment with the federal government would accelerate Bayelsa’s growth.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, lauded Diri’s move, calling it “a bold and visionary step” that would ensure better collaboration between the state and the central government. He also issued a subtle warning against acts of disloyalty — a veiled reference to the embattled deputy governor.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Senior Policy Adviser, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, called for unity and understanding among Bayelsans, urging them to support the governor’s efforts toward stability and development.
Similarly, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, praised Diri for his “visible developmental strides,” describing him as “a blessing to the state.”
As the political storm intensifies, all eyes are on the Federal High Court and the Bayelsa Assembly, whose next steps could reshape the state’s political landscape ahead of future elections.
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