Bayelsa politics is heating up following a surprise visit by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to Governor Douye Diri in Yenagoa, sparking intense rumours of a potential defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The high-level meeting, which occurred a few days behind closed doors, has triggered a political storm, with many speculating that Diri may be preparing to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join his South-South counterparts who recently crossed over to the ruling party. The development is already being dubbed the next chapter in what some are calling the “South-South political realignment” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The visit, coming barely a month after Oborevwori and Okowa led a dramatic exodus of Delta’s PDP political machinery to the APC in what President Bola Tinubu described as a “political tsunami,” has left tongues wagging across the region. The defection of the entire PDP structure in Delta State, including the deputy governor, House of Assembly speaker, local council chairmen, and grassroots mobilizers, sent shockwaves across the nation. Okowa, who ran as PDP’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, justified the switch as a strategic alignment with the federal government, a sentiment Oborevwori echoed while painting the move as a bold step for Delta’s development. Now, with their presence in Bayelsa, all eyes are on Governor Diri.
Though no official statement has confirmed the intent of the visit, multiple social media users have fueled the flames. A post by @Thereliantnews on June 1 directly linked the visit to defection talks, while another user, @Obrams, asked tongue-in-cheek when Diri would finally “join the winning side.” Political observers see the timing as too calculated to be coincidental, especially after Okowa and Oborevwori’s high-profile switch. The speculation is even more potent considering the rising influence of the APC in the oil-rich South-South, a region long considered a PDP stronghold.
Governor Diri, who was re-elected in 2023 under the PDP banner, has so far remained tight-lipped. But his silence is being interpreted as strategic hesitation, with analysts suggesting he may be weighing the benefits of remaining loyal to the PDP versus the undeniable perks of aligning with Abuja’s power brokers. In Delta, the promise of federal influence, contracts, and easier access to development funds was a major driver behind the defection according to Oborevwori, and similar incentives may be at play in Bayelsa.
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Adding fuel to the fire is the APC’s aggressive push into the South-South. Following the successful Delta coup, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje hinted that more governors and political heavyweights would soon be joining the fold. Many now believe the party has turned its sights on Bayelsa, hoping to score a symbolic and strategic win by convincing Diri to jump ship.
But the stakes are high. While some argue that joining the APC could fast-track development projects in Bayelsa, others warn that such a move could shatter the PDP’s base in the state, alienate loyalists, and spark internal crises. The PDP’s South-South Caretaker Committee Chairman, Elder Emma Ogidi, has already dismissed the Delta defection as a “survivalist move” by desperate politicians, insisting the PDP still has deep roots in the region.
The bigger picture reveals a political chessboard in motion. Nigeria’s politics has long been dominated by strategic defections rather than ideological convictions, and the drama unfolding in Bayelsa is no exception. From critics who brand such shifts as opportunistic, to APC loyalists celebrating what they call the “Renewed Hope Revolution,” the debate is fierce. Governor Diri now finds himself at the center of a defining moment, one that could reshape his legacy and redraw the South-South’s political map.
As the nation braces for the 2027 general elections, the million-naira question remains: Will Governor Douye Diri stay loyal to the PDP, or will he shock the nation and follow Oborevwori and Okowa into the APC fold? One visit has ignited a firestorm, and until Diri speaks, the political tension in Bayelsa is only set to intensify.
