Bayelsa Deputy Governor Denies Governor Diri’s Defection to APC

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has distanced himself from Governor Douye Diri’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News learnt that Ewhrudjakpo, alongside some other stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisted that the opposition party remains formidable in the state and across the country, stressing that there was no justification for abandoning the platform that brought them political prominence.

A party source in an interview with Daily Post said, “The Deputy Governor, Ewhrudjakpo, and one of our leaders, Seriake Dickson, including other former lawmakers in our party, are still with the PDP, we’re going nowhere.”

Governor Diri, who announced his resignation from the PDP on Wednesday through his spokesman, Daniel Alabrah, did not disclose reasons for his defection to the ruling APC.

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However, insiders revealed that Ewhrudjakpo pointedly refused to attend the State Executive Council meeting where the governor announced his decision, signalling his refusal to defect with his principal.

A source confirmed, “Earlier this morning, Diri presided over the SEC meeting, but the deputy governor refused to attend. He didn’t attend because he’s not defecting alongside the governor.”

Sources within the Bayelsa State House of Assembly disclosed that lawmakers who defected with Diri are already considering impeachment proceedings against Ewhrudjakpo for declining to switch parties.

According to them, his refusal would be described as “gross misconduct” and an impeachable offence.

Another source said, “We expect that the State Assembly will victimise him for his choice. If he’s victimised for remaining in the PDP, he will have no choice but to do the needful.”

Diri and Ewhrudjakpo were elected on a joint PDP ticket in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. The deputy governor, a lawyer and former senator for Bayelsa West, has long been a prominent figure in the PDP and has held several strategic roles, including serving as chair of the Nigerian International Coastal Border Platform.