Majority of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly have approved Governor Douye Diri’s planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Out of the 24 seats in the Assembly, 19 are occupied by PDP members, The Sun reports.
Governor Diri, who recently traveled to France with the Speaker, Abraham Ngobere, reportedly asked him to consult fellow lawmakers on the planned defection.
This came after Diri’s initial talks with PDP members in the National Assembly failed to gain full support.
Some federal lawmakers, led by Hon. Fred Agbedi, were said to be uncomfortable with the idea, especially due to concerns about being politically answerable to Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Oil.
Despite opposition at the federal level, the Speaker convened a meeting at his residence with PDP Assembly members.
Most of those present agreed that the governor’s move was in the best interest of the state.
They also expressed concern over the internal crisis in the PDP, saying the party was no longer a secure political platform.
However, three PDP lawmakers opposed the defection, arguing that the timing was wrong.
Two of them are from Sagbama Local Government Area, while the third is from Kolokuma/Opokuma.
A member of the Assembly confirmed that the meeting happened and that most lawmakers had agreed to go along with the governor’s decision.
“Yes, the Speaker has called us and we have met. The truth is that we are moving. We have given our consent to the governor. It is no longer a secret that we are leaving PDP”, he said.
If Douye Diri goes ahead with his defection, he will be joining Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, who both recently left the PDP for the APC.
This move will further reduce the number of PDP governors across the country to just eight.
