Three Lawmakers, PDP Leaders Reject Defection to APC With Diri

Three Bayelsa Lawmakers, PDP Leaders Reject Defection to APC With Gov Diri
PDP leaders say party remains strong despite governor’s move.
Deputy Governor Ewhrudjakpo sues over alleged impeachment plot.

Three members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state have vowed not to join Governor Douye Diri in his reported defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that he lawmakers—Godbless Oyinke, Ted Elemeforo, and Wisdom Fafi—reaffirmed their loyalty to the PDP, stressing that the party remains strong despite the governor’s move.

Speaking with The Punch, the Bayelsa State PDP Publicity Secretary, Ebiye Ogoli, said there was no justification for the leadership or members to defect alongside Governor Diri, who is currently serving his second and final term in office.

“We are not defecting with the governor. We stand by our last statement. The governor did not compel anyone to move with him. Before taking our position, we considered the fact that he is not contesting again, so there is no reason to leave the PDP,” Ogoli explained.

He further emphasized that the PDP’s structure and support base in Bayelsa remain intact and that reports suggesting mass defections were false.

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who has also stayed with the PDP, has filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop an alleged impeachment plan against him.

In the suit, Ewhrudjakpo listed the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker Abraham Ingobere, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, the Attorney-General, Biriyai Dambo (SAN), the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) as defendants.