As Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, delays his speculated defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC)—which many believe could be his next political move—some party chieftains have dismissed fears that the state chapter of the party might implode over the governor’s possible admission.
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Former APC Vice Chairman in Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Samuel Aredeh, on Monday countered comments by a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, who had claimed that the APC would implode due to recent defections.
Nabena had stated that the party did not need defecting governors—remarks Aredeh described as laughable, adding that Nabena lacked the capacity to gauge the mood of the party, either at the state or national levels.
He alleged that Nabena was speaking for a few party chieftains who feared their influence might be diminished once the governor formally joined the APC.
According to Aredeh, “The APC is not breaking; it is expanding. Only a man consumed by bitterness will see progress and call it a problem.
“Governors and political leaders are not defecting out of fear or desperation. They are joining because they see results. The Renewed Hope Agenda is working. Nigeria is being restructured for growth, the economy is stabilising, and governance is becoming more pragmatic and inclusive.”
Aredeh further stated that the APC is now being driven by people who believe in President Bola Tinubu’s reforms, noting that the party’s reward system under the president is providing the coordination, direction, and leadership the ruling party needs.
He added, “We are now focused on governance, delivery, and national progress.”
Another APC chieftain, Kenelayefa Stevens, in a statement on Monday, aligned with Aredeh’s position, describing Governor Diri’s anticipated defection as a welcome development that would strengthen the party in Bayelsa State.
Stevens said, “Governor Diri’s defection is a welcome development, and we remain confident in the leadership of President Tinubu and our party’s national executives.”
He dismissed Nabena’s comments as part of a calculated attempt to protect the waning influence of certain party figures who fear that Diri’s entry into the APC could alter the balance of power.
Stevens asserted, “Politics is, and always will be, a game of numbers. Governor Diri’s defection is a strategic gain that strengthens our party’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Contrary to Mr. Nabena’s fears, Governor Diri has proven himself to be a unifier—an inclusive leader committed to working with all stakeholders for the collective good.”
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