Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking a major political shake-up in the state.

The governor made the announcement on Wednesday during a briefing at the Executive Council Chamber of the Bayelsa State Government House. However, he did not disclose the political party he intends to join next.

Diri’s decision was reportedly backed by 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere.

According to a Facebook post by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, both the Speaker and all PDP members in the state legislature have also resigned from the party alongside the governor.

It was further gathered that Governor Diri has formally submitted his resignation letter to the PDP leadership, signaling the end of his long association with the party.

In a major development, all members of the Bayelsa State Executive Council have also resigned their positions in solidarity with the governor.

This dramatic move comes barely 24 hours after Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah also defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening the wave of political realignments ahead of the next general elections.

Governor Diri, who began his political career under the PDP, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2015, before becoming a Senator for Bayelsa Central in 2019.

He later assumed office as Governor of Bayelsa State in 2020 and was re-elected in 2023 under the PDP platform.

With his exit, political observers say Bayelsa’s political landscape is set for significant changes, as attention now turns to which party Diri and his allies will align with next.