Gov. Diri’s Defection to Our Party Delayed By His Request, Say APC Officials

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, reportedly delayed his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to a request he made to Vice President Kashim Shettima, according to some senior officials within the APC.

Diri had announced his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15 during an expanded State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Yenagoa.

Diri said the decision followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders in the state, adding that, “I am not resigning alone. I am here with Mr Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and all the members of our party in the Assembly who are with me on this. So today, I have formally resigned from the PDP for very obvious reasons.”

However, it has been two weeks since Diri resigned from the PDP and has yet to join the APC formally.

A senior official of the APC at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, in an interview with THE PUNCH, said that Diri had requested Shettima to hand over the party’s flag to him in a formal reception.

According to the APC official, the arrangement for the official reception delayed Diri’s defection, but the party has now completed the arrangements to welcome the governor.

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He said, “Governor Diri is coming to the APC, and he will join us on Monday. The party has put up a reception plan, and it is the wish of the governor that the Vice President hands over the APC flag to him. The national secretariat and the VP’s office have worked that out.

“The governor wants an official and befitting reception, and he deserves it. That is why he delayed his defection. But we are done with the arrangements.”

Similarly, another senior administrative officer at the APC secretariat in Abuja disclosed that arrangements were in place to receive the governor into the party on Monday.

He added, “I am aware that the secretariat is preparing to receive Governor Diri on Monday. The governor wants an official reception, and we are working on it. As I am speaking with you, nothing will change the governor’s plan to join the APC.”