From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Bayelsa’s political space is on edge as two major factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held parallel meetings in Yenagoa on Saturday, amid heightened anticipation over Governor Douye Diri’s expected formal defection to the party on Monday.
While the Sylva-led bloc of the APC met at the state party secretariat, the Lokpobiri faction reportedly gathered at the Government House, signalling a fierce contest for the control of the party’s structure in the state ahead of the governor’s entry.
At the APC Secretariat, key loyalists of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, reaffirmed their commitment to the unity of the party and pledged total loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election project.
Among those present were the State Chairman, Barr. Dennis Otiotio; Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare; Hon. Joshua MacIver; and Chief Preye Aganaba — all core members of the Sylva political family.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Barr. Otiotio declared that the APC in Bayelsa remains strong, organized, and loyal to the leadership of President Tinubu.
“Our structure is intact, our loyalty is undivided, and our focus remains the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The APC is open to new members, but we will not allow anyone to disrupt the foundation we have built over the years,” Otiotio said.
Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, speaking in the same vein, described the meeting as a strategic gathering to harmonize the party’s direction in light of current political developments.
“We are united in purpose. What matters now is consolidating governance and ensuring the Niger Delta remains central in national policy. The Renewed Hope Agenda is our guiding framework,” Ogbuku stated.
Prince Ebitimi Amgbare noted that the meeting was not about personalities but about party discipline and alignment with national goals.
“Our priority is the President’s success. We will continue to mobilize and strengthen our structures from the wards to the state level. That is the only way to guarantee relevance in 2027,” he said.
Hon. Joshua MacIver described the gathering as a reaffirmation of solidarity among faithful APC members, adding that “the party in Bayelsa will remain a model of loyalty and structure-driven leadership.”
Meanwhile, at the Government House, the Lokpobiri faction — loyal to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri — held what sources described as “a high-wired political engagement” involving government officials and pro-Diri allies within the APC.
Insiders said the meeting focused on harmonizing interests ahead of Monday’s formal defection of Governor Diri and key PDP officials to the ruling party.
A participant described it as “a fine-tuning session to ensure a seamless reception and symbolic show of unity before the national leadership.”
Political observers say the twin meetings underscore a delicate struggle for supremacy within the APC ahead of a major power realignment.
A political analyst in Yenagoa told Salient Times News that the unfolding scenario is “a contest for structure, influence, and relevance,” adding that “whoever controls the APC after Diri’s entry will shape the direction of Bayelsa politics for the next decade.”
As night falls in Yenagoa, the atmosphere remains tense but expectant, with last-minute consultations continuing across party lines. Monday’s planned defection, analysts say, could mark a turning point in Bayelsa’s political trajectory and set the tone for 2027.
