The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has declared that the South-South geopolitical region is now solidly behind President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
Akpabio made this declaration at a rally to formally welcome Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Diri’s decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC has been hailed as a significant boost to the ruling party’s strength in the South-South region.
The defection comes after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, also defected to APC.
Reacting to Diri’s defection, Akpabio said, “You are today taking the bold decision to join Nigeria and this Bayelsa state to light, and this Bayelsa state to hope.”
The Senate President emphasised that the South-South region was now committed to supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Governor Diri, who was elected on the platform of PDP, stated that the defection was not just about Bayelsa State, but the entire Ijaw nation.
“We tried all we could to save the PDP but to no avail. Undertakers were very busy burying the PDP,” he said.
Diri also thanked President Tinubu for his support and assistance to Bayelsa State in times of critical needs.
The defection of Governor Diri and other prominent leaders from PDP to APC has strengthened the ruling party’s position in the South-South region.
APC now controls five out of the six states in the region, with only Rivers State still under PDP control.
