… Dickson, PDP Chairmen Deplore Action
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is coming barely 24 hours after his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, similarly dumped the PDP for the APC.
But in a swift reaction, chairmen of PDP state chapters described the faction as an assault on democracy.
The Bayelsa governor resigned his membership of the PDP alongside 23 members of the State House of Assembly.
Governor Diri’s spokesman, Daniel Alabara, confirmed his principal’s resignation from the PDP on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
The Forum of PDP state chairmen, on Wednesday, warned that the APC’s conduct “is a dangerous step toward establishing a de facto one-party state, which Nigerians must collectively resist.
The PDP chairmen condemned the APC’s “undemocratic, desperate, and systematic efforts to intimidate, harass, and coerce PDP leaders—including governors, senators, and members of the National and State Assemblies—into defecting.”
They expressed concern over the activities of certain individuals within the PDP who, they alleged, are working with external interests linked to the APC to derail the party’s national convention.
The party chiefs suspended two members of the Forum – the chairman of the Imo State chapter, Austine Nwachukwu, and his Abia State counterpart, Abraham Nnana.
The two chairmen had joined another person to file a case in court, seeking to stop the upcoming PDP national convention.
The Forum described their actions as a betrayal of the party’s unity and collective resolve.
The Forum then elected the chairman of the Edo State chapter, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, as the new chairman of the Forum of State Chairmen.
This was followed by a vote of confidence in the PDP national leadership, the PDP Governors Forum and all statutory organs of the party.
The chairmen reaffirmed their commitment towards rebuilding, revitalising, and repositioning the PDP as Nigeria’s credible alternative and leading political force.
No fewer than 25 of the 36 state chairmen attended the meeting, which was hosted by the chairman of the FCT chapter, Ismaila Mohd Dogara.
Also reacting to the defection of the Bayelsa Governor, his immediate predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, said the governor’s action ridiculed democracy.
Addressing journalists in Abuja shortly after the news of the governor’s defection broke, Dickson, who represents the Bayelsa West district in the Senate, slammed Diri and other defectors to the APC.
“Governor Diri consulted me about his defection, but I saw no reason to leave the PDP. I am still standing with the PDP because I am in politics to expand the ideals that I hold dear.
“They are making Nigeria look small and making our democracy look ridiculous. Nigeria’s political class are committing class suicide.
“They are running to the ruling party, and nobody knows what is pursuing them or what they are pursuing,” Dickson said.
The senator blamed the leadership and some stakeholders in the PDP for the crisis that led to the gale of defections.
He declared his unflinching support for the PDP and his resolve to remain in the party despite the challenges.
He said, “I blame the leadership in the PDP NWC (National Working Committee) who created the mess and ensured the mess persisted.
“But I am where I am in the PDP. I don’t believe Nigeria should be a one-party state. As a soldier of democracy, I am used to the ups and downs of democratic practice.
“I am as constant as the North Star. I am working with other party leaders to reposition the PDP.”
The former governor drew a contrast between Ghana and Nigeria in the way democracy is being practised.
He noted that elected officeholders in opposition don’t dump their parties after losing elections, citing the case of the incumbent Ghanaian president, John Mahama, as a classic example.
“In Ghana, Mahama did not abandon his party when he was defeated as a sitting president. He waited patiently for the winner, Dr Akufo-Addo, to complete his tenure.
“He led his party, the NDC, to win the last presidential election and returned to power. There was no litigation, no accusations of rigging by the ruling party that lost the election.
“I left the seat as governor of Bayelsa State. I am not playing godfather to the present governor.”
