Bayelsa State, Governor Douye Diri has sacked over 50 political appointees for their alleged involvement with The NEW Associates, a grassroots political group supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. The mass dismissal follows the appointees’ participation in a controversial mega rally held in Yenagoa on April 26, 2025, to honor President Tinubu and Wike, which had sparked significant unrest in the state.
The rally, organized by The NEW Associates and led by George Turnah, the South-South Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was intended to inaugurate the group’s Bayelsa State chapter and express gratitude for Tinubu’s appointments of Bayelsa indigenes into key federal positions. However, the event, held at the Church of God Mission Camp Ground in Igbogene, Yenagoa, was marred by chaos when gunmen, suspected to be political thugs, fired shots near the venue, causing panic among attendees.
Governor Diri, who had repeatedly warned against the rally, citing its potential to destabilize the state, described the event as a provocative act aimed at importing the political crisis from neighboring Rivers State into Bayelsa. The governor’s concerns were rooted in the ongoing rivalry between Wike and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which has heightened ethnic and political tensions in the region. Diri had earlier accused The NEW Associates of attempting to sow disunity and undermine his administration’s peace-building efforts.
A statement from the Bayelsa State Government confirmed the sackings, noting that the affected appointees, including special advisers, senior special assistants, and other aides, were relieved of their duties for “gross misconduct and disloyalty” to the state’s PDP leadership.
“These individuals openly identified with a group whose actions threatened the peace and stability of Bayelsa State,” the statement read. “Their participation in the unauthorized rally was a clear violation of their oath of office and loyalty to the government they served.”
The sacked appointees, many of whom were reportedly loyal to Wike, have decried the governor’s decision as a witch-hunt aimed at stifling dissent within the PDP. A former senior special assistant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that the dismissals were politically motivated to weaken Wike’s influence in Bayelsa ahead of the 2027 elections. “We were only exercising our constitutional right to associate and express support for President Tinubu’s administration. This is an attack on our freedom,” he said.
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George Turnah, the convener of The NEW Associates, condemned the sackings as an overreach of power, accusing Diri of attempting to suppress political opposition. Speaking to journalists in Yenagoa, Turnah argued that the rally was a peaceful gathering to promote Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and appreciate Wike’s contributions to Bayelsa through federal appointments. “Governor Diri is the greatest beneficiary of Tinubu’s administration in the South-South, yet he chooses to persecute those who align with the president,” Turnah stated, referencing federal projects and appointments credited to Tinubu’s government.
The rally’s postponement from April 12 to April 26, following appeals from Ijaw leaders and a court order restraining the event, had already heightened tensions. Despite the rescheduling, supporters of Diri and other political figures, including former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, scheduled counter-rallies on the same date, raising fears of clashes. The eventual disruption of the pro-Wike rally by gunshots further fueled accusations of state-sponsored interference, though Diri’s administration has denied any involvement.
Youth leaders from Bayelsa’s eight local government areas, under the banner of Concerned Youth Leaders, have also weighed in, warning The NEW Associates against actions that could destabilize the state. In a press briefing, their coordinator, Mr. Tony Ile, described the group’s activities as divisive and urged Bayelsa youths to resist being used as tools for chaos. “Governor Diri has worked tirelessly to maintain peace in Bayelsa. We will not allow any group to undermine these efforts,” Ile said.
The sackings have deepened the rift between Diri and Wike’s loyalists, with implications for the PDP’s cohesion in Bayelsa and the broader South-South region. Political analysts suggest that Diri’s actions may be a strategic move to consolidate power and counter Wike’s growing influence, particularly as Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid gains momentum. However, critics warn that the mass dismissals could alienate key stakeholders and escalate intra-party conflicts.
As Bayelsa navigates this turbulent political landscape, security agencies have intensified patrols in Yenagoa to prevent further unrest. Commodore Omobamidele Akinbami of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH assured residents that the state’s peace would be maintained, stating, “We are on high alert to ensure that no group disrupts the stability of Bayelsa.”
The sacked appointees have vowed to seek legal redress, w hile The NEW Associates plans to regroup and continue its mobilization efforts. With both sides digging in, Bayelsa State braces for what could be a protracted political showdown with far-reaching consequences.
