Bayelsa: APC leaders urge Tinubu to reject Gov Diri’s alleged plans to join its fold

Bayelsa: APC leaders urge Tinubu to reject Gov Diri’s alleged plans to join its fold

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State, have rejected what they called an alleged plan by Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to defect to the party.

The leaders who said Governor Diri’s romance with the presidency may not be unconnected with the 2023 Bayelsa governorship dispute at the State Election Petition Tribunal, however warned President Bola Tinubu against any deal with the governor, saying, “President Bola Tinubu must be wary of any alliance with Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.”

Speaking with the press on Monday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, chairman of the APC Stakeholders Forum, Bayelsa State, Samuel Yousuo, and its secretary, Ebigoni Gabriel, noted that “Bayelsa APC does not need Diri, we are capable of winning without him, if the president supports our reconciliatory efforts. We’re constrained to act, as we observe the unholy romance between Governor Diri and aides of the president coordinated by the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.”

The leaders while claiming that Governor Diri worked against President Tinubu’s interest in the 2023 presidential polls, alleged that the governor was already working with some northern PDP elements for the 2027 election, adding that “as your trusted allies in Bayelsa State, we are using this medium to let you know that Diri can’t keep faith with anyone.”

The leaders mocked Diri over what they described as lacking political clout in his party, the PDP, noting that no political leader of repute in PDP would be defecting with him to the APC, “if he dares to cross carpet. He has abandoned all PDP leaders in the state. We are writing to let you know that he has no electoral value. So his coming to APC will be a big baggage for us. Diri is doing all he can to curry your favour, as he is afraid of being removed by the tribunal”.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Daniel Alaibrah, dismissed the allegations levelled against his boss, Governor Duoye Diri, describing it as baseless, saying the APC was depleted following the trouncing at the polls and wondered why Governor Diri would choose to decamp after winning a second term.

According to him, the APC’s petition at the tribunal is worthless, adding that Governor Diri does not need to fear removal by the tribunal.

He said, “Governor Diri, who trounced the APC roundly at the last poll, has no need to fear removal by the tribunal. Governor Diri was the overwhelmingly popular politician at the last poll. He is a really well loved political figure in the state. Besides, these characters who claim to belong to the group are unknown, we know the real opposition figures.

“This is the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau. Some persons are behind this mischief. In any case, who are these persons that think they can dictate who the president goes into an alliance with?”