Bayelsa in Political Turmoil as Diri Joins APC, Deputy Governor Faces Impeachment
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, is facing impeachment by the State House of Assembly following Governor Douye Diri’s formal defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today.
The crisis erupted after Ewhrudjakpo refused to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite Diri’s resignation from the party on October 15. The House of Assembly, reportedly acting under the governor’s influence, has since commenced impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor.
In a swift move to save his position, Ewhrudjakpo filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja last week, seeking an injunction to halt the process.
Speaking during the state’s 14th annual thanksgiving service on Sunday, Diri defended his decision to join the APC, describing it as a step taken “in the best interest 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 emphasized that his administration’s priority remains peace, development, and continuity of governance.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, hailed Diri’s defection as a strategic move to align Bayelsa with the federal government, warning against acts of disloyalty a veiled reference to Ewhrudjakpo’s insistence on staying with the PDP.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Senior Policy Adviser, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, urged Bayelsans to maintain unity for continued progress, while NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, praised Diri’s “visible developmental achievements,” describing him as “a blessing to the state.”