Defection To APC: Governor Opens Up On Crises With Deputy

Defection To APC

 

OpenLife Nigeria reports that governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has opened up on the brewing crises between he and the deputy governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, 60, has been serving as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State since 2020.
He was the senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District from 2019 to 2020 in the 9th National Assembly before he was elected as Deputy Governor alongside Douye Diri.

They were both re elected in 2024 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
However, due to current political realignment, governor Diri formally joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC on October 15 citing personal reasons.

On November 3, 2025, he was formally received into the party in an elaborate ceremonies at the State capital, Yenagao in which national leaders of APC were in attendance.
Deputy governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo stayed back in PDP and refused to join his boss in APC.

That created tension in the state as impeachment moves were made against Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Speaking on the crises Governor Diri said he will not compel his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join him in the All Progressives Congress (APC),

He stated this during the weekly State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, with Ewhrudjakpo in attendance.

The governor explained that as a matter of principle, he prefers dialogue to confrontation and will continue to engage his deputy in discussions.

“It is difficult for the governor to be on one side and the deputy on another,” Diri said. “But we will continue to talk, and we might end up in the same party tomorrow.”

He revealed that the case filed by Ewhrudjakpo at a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop a purported impeachment process had been discontinued following their discussions.

“I do not intend to force anyone to join the APC but to appeal to them to see reason with me. I might have the power today but not tomorrow. We must not heat up the polity. We are brothers and one people. Politics should be about development, not division.”