By Jungle-Journalist.Com, Yenagoa
In what could alter the political landscape of the Niger Delta, indications have emerged that Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, is on the verge of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reliable sources within the Government House, Yenagoa, confirmed to Jungle-Journalist.Com on Friday that advanced negotiations are ongoing between top APC leaders and Governor Diri’s camp, following weeks of discreet meetings both in Abuja and Port Harcourt.
According to one insider, the move is being coordinated by powerful political figures in the Presidency who view Diri as “a stabilizing force in the South-South” and an ally capable of strengthening APC’s influence in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“It’s no longer speculation. Talks have reached an advanced stage. Governor Diri is only waiting for the right political timing to make the announcement,” the source disclosed under condition of anonymity.
The defection, if confirmed, would mark one of the most significant political crossovers since 2015, given Diri’s strong ties to the PDP establishment and his close association with former President Goodluck Jonathan, himself a political heavyweight from Bayelsa.
Meanwhile, reactions have begun to trail the rumoured move. While APC insiders are jubilant, describing it as a “strategic win,” some PDP loyalists have expressed shock, calling the development a “betrayal of confidence.”
A top PDP chieftain in Bayelsa who spoke to Jungle-Journalist.Com lamented that the governor’s move “would shake the foundation of the party in the state,” adding that “Bayelsa has always been PDP’s home base, and this could change everything.”
Political analysts say Diri’s defection could also trigger a chain reaction across the Niger Delta, where several PDP governors and former ministers are said to be weighing similar options due to what they describe as “a leadership vacuum and internal disarray” within the party.
Governor Diri, who is yet to make any public statement, was last seen in Abuja, where he reportedly held a closed-door meeting with top APC figures, including the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
If confirmed, his defection would make him the fifth South-South governor to join the APC in recent times — a move many believe signals the ruling party’s strategic consolidation ahead of future national elections.