Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has announced his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party in Yenagoa on October 15, 2025, with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Abraham Ingobere, 23 assembly members, commissioners, and local authorities joining him.

Reports say there are internal conflicts within the PDP’s Bayelsa chapter, as Senator Henry Seriake Dickson reaffirmed his allegiance to the party while Diri reportedly moved to the All Progressives Congress after Enugu Governor Peter Mbah made a similar decision.

The decision was made after “careful consideration of the political realities and the need to pursue a vision that best serves the people of Bayelsa,” according to Governor Diri, who has been the governor of Bayelsa since 2020.

Growing internal conflicts within the PDP and disputes over party tactics at the state and federal levels, according to sources close to the governor, were the driving forces behind the resignation.

The PDP’s power in the Niger Delta is anticipated to be significantly impacted by Diri and his important friends’ departure.

Given that Bayelsa is a crucial state in Nigerian politics, this resignation has heightened conjecture on the realignment of political forces in the run-up to elections, laying the groundwork for a potentially turbulent and uncertain time in the state’s political history.