• FCT Minister says he deserves commendation for ‘clearing path’
• PDP cries foul, alleges APC investing heavily to wreck opposition
• ADC: Mbah, Diri’s, other decamp confirm APC’s one-party agenda
• Govs’ defections won’t guarantee victory in 2027, says CUPP
• Dickson faults Diri’s switch, cautions on one-party system
• APC will control 30 states by 2026, says Information Minister
In a pointed counter to his critics, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday turned long-standing accusations of disloyalty on their head, noting that those who once accused him of destabilising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have themselves defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
With a hint of irony, Wike cast the defections as vindication of his political choices, saying the defectors should rather commend him for “clearing the path” and aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Wike’s remarks came amid the defections of PDP chieftains, including Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, his Bayelsa counterpart, Duoye Diri, and former National Youth Leader of the party, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, to the APC.
He said the ongoing political realignments showed that members of both parties were working together in support of President Tinubu’s administration.
According to Wike: “It has never been like this before. Whichever party you belong to, all of them have always worked together to support this administration.
“I’m very happy that very soon I will speak to Nigerians. I have been watching on daily television and social media, people who said I want to destabilise the party. I’m working for APC, and all of them are now in APC.
“So they should commend me for working for where they are heading to. I should be commended for doing a good job for them.”
Wike, a former Rivers State governor and key member of the G-5 group of aggrieved PDP governors, described the current political shifts as a direct result of President Tinubu’s “visionary and pragmatic leadership,” which he said had reset the nation’s fiscal and infrastructural direction.
“In the past, governors were running from bank to bank to fund projects and pay salaries. Today, because of the leadership of one man, banks are the ones running to states,” Wike said.
“President Tinubu has created the financial space for every state and the FCT to not only meet salary obligations but also execute meaningful projects.
“No governor today can claim they cannot pay salaries or execute projects. The excuse is gone. The economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, were tough decisions many leaders before him avoided. But President Tinubu took the bold step, and today, the results are becoming evident.”
The FCT Minister spoke at the flag-off of the construction of the main carriageways of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Ring Road I Junction to Ring Road II Junction along Wasa Road, near Shoprite Junction, in the Apo area of Abuja.
Diri dumps PDP after consultations, says exit for ‘obvious reasons’
THIS came as Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, yesterday ended weeks of speculation over his political future as he formally announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, citing “obvious reasons.”
Diri made the announcement during an expanded State Executive Council meeting held at Government House, Yenagoa.
Present at the meeting were the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere; his deputy, Michael Ogbere; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Minority Leader, Edward Brigidi; and seven other lawmakers.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted Diri as saying that the decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders and leaders across the state.
He thanked his supporters for their loyalty and urged them to continue standing by his administration as it works to build a stronger Bayelsa.
“Today, I wish to address a matter that has been the subject of speculation and debate across party lines in Bayelsa State and beyond. We allowed the speculations. But while it lasted, we were also doing our consultation,” Diri said.
“After extensive consultation, today, the 15th day of October 2025, I wish to formally notify you that in keeping with the extant protocols, I, Governor Douye Diri, do hereby resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“I am not resigning alone, as you can see. I am here with Mr Speaker, Deputy Speaker and all the members of our party (in the Assembly) who are with me on this.
“So, today, I have formally resigned from the PDP for very obvious reasons.”
Speaking at the event, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, said he, his deputy, and other PDP, APGA and APC members of the assembly fully aligned with the governor’s decision to quit the party.
Ingobere described Diri as the leader of the state’s political structure and noted that 21 of the 24 lawmakers in the assembly were in full support of his move.
He commended the governor for taking what he described as a timely and strategic decision.
PDP cries foul, says APC ‘investing heavily’ to wreck opposition
MEANWHILE, the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of allegedly investing heavily in efforts to destabilise its ranks ahead of the opposition party’s national convention scheduled for November.
The PDP alleged that the APC was working in concert with some of its top-ranking members to undermine its internal cohesion and truncate its future prospects.
“The government is working very hard to turn the country into a one-party state. They’re investing heavily in truncating the PDP. But I think they are erring because there is new hope from the PDP. It is very clear there’s a hand of the government in all that is happening in PDP,” said PDP Chairman in Kano, Yusuf Ado Kibiya.
Reacting to recent developments within the party, Kibiya expressed regret over the sudden postponement of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, insisting that the internal scuffle was being fuelled by agents of the APC.
Speaking from Abuja, Kibiya accused the PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, of attempting to undermine the authority of the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, during an open court proceeding.
The Kano chairman questioned why the national legal adviser failed to inform the party leadership about a legal action instituted against the party, only to appear in court after the leadership had already engaged a private legal team.
“How can you go and compromise and then allow it to go on with the case? So the point is not fighting for power. No, the issue is there was a court case instituted by some of the members of PDP under his watch. He didn’t inform the party leadership and now they are doing underground work to undermine the party,” he said.
“We were supposed to meet today for the NEC meeting, and the issues to be discussed were very clear. It had to do with the convention in November, and everything was okay except for a few issues that surfaced. Then, a few members of the working committee who connived with outsiders wanted to derail the process.
“When you see some working committee members of the party who all along have been part of the NEC, and then they decided to derail, you will know that such individuals have been bought over.”
On the recent defection of Enugu and Bayelsa State governors to the APC, Kibiya said the move did not come as a surprise, noting that several indicators had long pointed to their departure.
He, however, maintained that the defections would not deter voters in the affected states from supporting the PDP, insisting that the 2027 elections would be “between the electorate and the APC.”
“It’s not a shocker. All of them, we knew they were going. Anybody in PDP knows. We are glad they are gone because you can’t deal with people with double-edged swords. The governors have compromised.
“But I can tell you that the governors are not the electorates. This is where people are making this mistake. The history is there. If Peter had become a governor or a senator in his place, it would have been wonderful. So this thinking of a governor is all part of it. So good riddance to bad rubbish. That’s all I’m concerned about,” Kibiya said.
ADC says govs’ defections confirm APC’s one-party agenda
ALSO, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said the recent defections of some state governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress have vindicated its long-held position that the APC’s plan is to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
n a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the defections of the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States amounted to a betrayal of their people, adding that the 2027 elections would be a direct contest between Nigerians and the APC.
According to the statement, “The recent defections by the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States to the ruling All Progressives Congress validate the African Democratic Congress’ 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.”
The ADC said that, while it might appear the APC had gained more governors, the reality was that the defectors had abandoned their people to join 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,” the statement said.
“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.”
The ADC noted that in any democracy, when a ruling party misgoverns, it is the duty of the opposition to defend the people, provide alternative ideas, and lead them out of hardship.
“This is what Nigerians expected from these governors in opposition,” the statement continued. “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 APC might celebrate the defections, the ADC said the opposition coalition was equally pleased that “the line has been made even clearer between those committed to saving the country and those merely joining 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,” the statement added.
CUPP says govs’ defections to APC won’t guarantee victory in 2027
SIMILARLY, the General Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Peter Ameh, said the recent defections of the Enugu and Bayelsa State governors to the All Progressives Congress will not guarantee them success in the 2027 general elections.
Ameh, who is also a former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), described the defections as acts of political desperation rather than strategic alignment or public service.
“No defection can save a leader who has lost touch with his people,” Ameh said in Abuja. “Those running to the ruling party are not seeking to serve, they are seeking protection.”
He noted that many political leaders still hold the outdated belief that joining the ruling party ensures survival, warning that such thinking shows a deep disconnect from the realities of Nigerian voters.
“The truth is that Nigerians have outgrown party labels. The 2023 elections proved it beyond doubt. In Southern Kaduna, an okada rider unseated established politicians. In Enugu, the Labour Party upended years of PDP dominance because the people wanted change,” Ameh stated.
According to him, the defections by the two governors reflect “fear, not faith,” arguing that leaders who have performed well should have no need to seek refuge in the ruling party.
“If a leader is truly serving his people, he should draw his strength from their trust, not from proximity to federal power. Running to the APC shows fear of accountability and loss of influence, not confidence in service delivery,” he said.
Ameh warned that voters in both Enugu and Bayelsa States were too politically sophisticated to be swayed by party switching or federal influence.
“The people of these states are not naïve. They know who is working and who is not. No amount of federal power can override the will of an awakened electorate,” he said.
He further accused defecting politicians of undermining democracy by treating political parties as temporary shelters rather than platforms for governance and reform.
“These politicians are not seeking partnership with the people but protection from them. They jump ship instead of fixing the mess in their parties,” Ameh added.
He maintained that the 2027 elections would be determined by performance, integrity, and credibility rather than party structures or propaganda.
“2027 will be a reckoning. Nigerians are wiser now. They know that leadership is about character, not convenience. Those who have ignored the people will soon discover that the people hold the real power,” Ameh said.
Dickson faults Diri’s defection, says democracy must not become one-party system
RELATEDLY, the former Bayelsa State governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, criticised the defection of Governor Douye Diri from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, accusing him and other defectors of fleeing from the political crisis they helped to create.
Speaking with journalists after the plenary yesterday, Dickson described the move as “unnecessary and unfortunate,” particularly coming from a second-term governor.
“I am where I have been and where I will remain,” Dickson said. “I don’t believe Nigeria should ever be a one-party state. I am a soldier of democracy, used to the ups and downs of political life, and I remain constant as the northern star in the PDP.”
The former governor disclosed that Governor Diri had reached out to him before his defection, but said he was not persuaded by the reasons advanced for leaving the PDP.
“To his credit, the governor consulted me. But I was not convinced. I saw no compelling reason for a second-term governor to defect,” he said.
Dickson accused some PDP leaders and governors of failing to demonstrate leadership, instead abandoning the party during its most vulnerable period.
“The people who created this mess, who refused to solve the problems they caused, are the same people now bailing out,” he lamented. “It’s very sad. It makes our democracy look ridiculous.”
Reaffirming his loyalty to the PDP, Dickson said the party had historically provided political opportunities for the Ijaw Nation and the Niger Delta people.
“The PDP gave our people the opportunity to rise, to become Vice President, Acting President, and even President of Nigeria. The APC cannot do that,” he said. “If we fail to rescue the PDP, we’ll take a collective decision, but certainly not to join the ruling party. Democracy without opposition ceases to be democracy.”
APC will control 30 states by 2026, says Information Minister
ALSO, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will control 30 states by 2026, as more opposition governors prepare to join the ruling party.
Idris made the remark yesterday while speaking as Special Guest of Honour 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.
The two-day event, themed “FGN–PGF Synergy 2025: One Message, One Future,” focused on strengthening collaboration between the federal and state governments to develop a unified communication strategy.
According to Idris, the recent wave of defections into the APC is a direct result of the “good policies and programmes” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which, he said, has fostered inclusive governance, driven economic reforms, and stabilised 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.
