.Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Wednesday, put an end to speculations surrounding his purported defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as he formally declared his resignation from the party, citing ‘obvious reasons’.
The Governor announced this during an expanded State Executive Council meeting at Government House in Yenagoa, which was attended by Speaker of the House of Assembly Abraham Ingobere, Deputy Speaker Michael Ogbere, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) minority leader Edward Brigidi, and seven other lawmakers.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that he took the decision after extensive consultation with leaders of the state.
He expressed gratitude to his supporters, who he said have stood firmly with him and his government, and urged them to continue as he builds a strong and virile Bayelsa.
His words: “Today, I wish to address a matter that has been the subject of speculation and debate across party lines in Bayelsa State and beyond. We allowed the speculations. But while it lasted, we were also doing our consultation.
“After extensive consultation, I wish to formally notify you that in keeping with the extant protocols, I Governor Douye Diri, do hereby resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“I am not resigning, I am here with Mr. Speaker, Deputy Speaker and all the members of our party (in the Assembly) who are with me on this.
Lending his voice, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, said himself his deputy, other PDP members of the assembly completely align with the governor’s decision to leave the party.
Ingobere, who referred to the governor as the leader of the political structure of the state, said he was not alone in his decision as he had the backing of the overwhelming majority of 21 of the 24-member assembly.
The resignation of Bayelsa State Governor is coming Hours after Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and Lawmakers of the State house of Assembly resigned their membership from PDP and joined the All Progressives Congress, APC
