.….Tinubu determined to turn Nigeria into one-party state – ADC
…APC will control 30 states by 2026 — Idris
….I will never join APC – Fayose
…..We Are Not In Military Time When You Capture People – Obi
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Diri, who announced this on Wednesday at the exco chamber in the Bayelsa State Government House.
He said his decision was for an obvious reason, but did not state the reason or the political party to which he will be moving.
“After extensive consultations, today, October 15, 2025, I wish to notify you that, in keeping with the extant protocols, I, Governor Douye Diri, do hereby resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he announced.
The Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, was absent, but the governor said all those not present at the meeting were on official assignments.
He also stated that the chairmen of all the local government areas will move with him.
His decision was backed by 23 members of the House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Abraham Ngobere.
The meeting was attended by 10 members of the House of Assembly.
The 24-member House of Assembly has 20 PDP lawmakers, three All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, and one member from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The Speaker said the PDP does not have the ability to present a presidential candidate and win the 2027 election.
Defections
Diri’s defection came 24 hours after his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State defected to the All Progressives Congress on October 14, 2025
Mbah officially dumped the PDP for the APC on Tuesday during a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state.
He said the move was driven by the need to better serve the interests of the people of the state, and not a betrayal.
“This is not a betrayal; it is also not abandoning.
“It is more about thinking I was entrusted with the people’s mandate by the people, and it is also a cost on me carrying that same mandate on a platform that will best serve the people,” the governor told journalists shortly after announcing his defection.
The two governors’ defection came months after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, moved to the ruling party with all their officials and appointees earlier in the year.
But the PDP said it was disappointed by the defection of the Enugu governor to the APC.
Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno
It urged serving governors in the PDP to continue to recognise their role as leaders in the opposition party entrusted with political power by the people who voted for them.
“The PDP is utterly disappointed by those actions, having regard to what we know behind the scene. But having said that, people have a right to decide what they want to do; the consequences can follow,” the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba, said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday.
‘Moles Within PDP’
Ologunagba also said that the PDP was aware of moles undermining the party’s progress.
He, however, assured that the PDP national convention scheduled to be held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November would help rejuvenate the party from its foundation and reposition it for future elections.
“There are some people from within our fold that continue the undermine the party and its progress. We recognise that, but we are dealing with that,” hge added.
Opposition In ‘Disarray’
But President Bola Tinubu said the APC would not close its doors to members of the opposition parties who chose to join the ruling party.
He also said he would neither bother about the crisis in the opposition parties nor help them fix the problems, adding that it was a pleasure to see opposition parties in disarray.
“Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist,” Tinubu said while addressing the joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day.
“For me, I will not say, ‘Try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you to do so either.’ It is indeed a pleasure to witness you in such disarray,” the President added amid cheers from supporters and federal lawmakers on the platform of the APC.
When formally received by the leadership of the APC, Diri’s defection will reduce the number of PDP governors in the South-East and South-South to one — Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State — and eight nationwide.
Tinubu determined to turn Nigeria into one-party state – ADC
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that the recent defections of some state governors to the ruling party has vindicated the position of the opposition coalition on the plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
In a statement, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the opposition is not bothered by what he described as “political apostasy” by the governors.
Abdullahi said the 2027 elections will be a contest between the people of Nigeria and the ruling party “that has sent the majority into abject poverty and made life unbearable for most”.
“The recent defections by the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) validates the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s long-standing warning that President Bola Tinubu is determined to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, no matter the cost to democracy or national stability.”
“While it may seem like the APC has added more governors to its column, in reality, what has happened is these governors have actually abandoned their people to team up with the ruling party that has made life miserable for the majority.
“Nigerians can see the current state of the nation. They live through the APC’s failures every single day. Even those who once campaigned for the APC or had its logo on their social media profiles now avoid association with the party. Why? Because the Tinubu administration has failed on insecurity, failed on economic management, failed on healthcare, failed on social welfare, failed on corruption, and failed to restore Nigeria’s standing in the international community.
“Every day, Nigerians are paying the price for these failures. Food prices continue to increase, jobs are non-existent, and insecurity continues to choke every part of the country.
“When the ruling party has misgoverned the country, the only hope for the people in a democracy is for the opposition to rise up in defence, propose alternative ideas, and lead the people out of their misery. This is what Nigerians expected from these governors in opposition. Instead, they abdicated. And in an act of historic political apostasy, they chose to join the grand conspiracy against the Nigerian people. They abandoned their people, not out of conviction but out of cowardice and other selfish considerations.
“While the ruling party continues to celebrate the defection of these governors, the ADC and the opposition coalition are equally delighted that the line has been made even clearer between those who are committed to saving the country and those who merely want to join the gravy train. The people can see, and they are waiting. 2027 will be a clear battle between the people of Nigeria and President Tinubu and his gang of governors in the APC.”
Defections: APC will control 30 states by 2026 — Idris
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says Nigeria will have 30 All Progressives Congress, APC-controlled states by 2026, stressing that more opposition governors have indicated interest in joining the ruling party.
The minister said this on Wednesday at the 2025 Quarterly Strategy Meeting of the Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, for Commissioners for Information of APC-governed states, held at the Government House Multipurpose Hall, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Salient Times reports that the two-day event, themed “FGN–PGF Synergy 2025: One Message, One Future,” focused on strengthening collaboration between the federal and state governments to build a unified communication framework.
Idris added that the wave of defections into the APC is a result of the good policies and programmes of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said has promoted inclusive governance, driven economic reforms, and stabilized the naira.
“Presently, our great party, the APC, controls 24 states. With the number of opposition governors showing interest in joining us.
“I can assure you that by 2026, we will have 30 APC-controlled states as we approach the 2027 general elections to re-elect President Tinubu for a second term,” Idris said.
I will never join APC – Fayose
Former Governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose has dismissed speculations that he plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, insisting that he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Fayose said that although he openly supported President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, it did not mean he had joined APC.
He described Tinubu as a respected national leader, especially from the South-West, but maintained that his loyalty to PDP remains unchanged.
“The PDP’s problem did not start today. I am not a member of the APC and I will never be. I didn’t hide my support for Asiwaju; I consider him a leader in Nigeria and particularly from our zone,” Fayose stated.
Fayose’s comments come amid a wave of defections rocking PDP, with several top members, including governors and lawmakers, recently joining APC.
Defections: We Are Not In Military Time When You Capture People, Obi Tells FG
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has frowned at the recent defections of some political actors, criticising the current administration.
Obi who briefed journalists in Abuja on Wednesday said Nigerian is not experiencing military rule.
“We are not in a military time when you capture people,” he said in reaction to recent defection of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and his Bayelsa counterpart, Douye Diri, to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Describing Governor Mbah as his good friend, Obi said: “I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations.”
The former Anambra State Governor also Obi dismissed claims the South-East could be “captured” politically.
He, however, insisted that leadership in a democracy is about persuasion, not coercion.
“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people.
“You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere,” Obi stated.
Obi called on public officials to prioritise good governance and policies that directly improve the lives of citizens.
He warning that no amount of political realignment can guarantee loyalty from the people without performance.
“The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it,” he added.
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