Bayelsa APC, PDP Trade Blows Over Governor Diri's Tinubu Support

A bitter dispute has erupted between the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State, centring on Governor Douye Diri's commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu's second-term campaign. The row began when Bayelsa PDP chairman George Turnah publicly questioned whether Diri was genuinely working for the President's re-election prospects ahead of 2027, suggesting the governor had done little to demonstrate such backing.

The APC responded swiftly to Turnah's remarks. State party chairman Warman Weri Ogoriba flatly rejected the allegation, declaring that Diri was actively engaged in championing Tinubu's campaign and stood among key figures driving the effort across the state.

Ogoriba characterised Turnah's claims as baseless and without merit. Beyond the disagreement over Tinubu support, an APC chieftain named Festus Daumiebi Sunday also issued a broader complaint against Turnah.

In a separate statement, Daumiebi Sunday objected to what he termed unprovoked and disrespectful personal attacks levelled against Governor Diri by the PDP chairman. Daumiebi Sunday urged Turnah to abandon such personal assaults and instead focus on policy-driven campaign discussions ahead of the 2027 elections, noting that such behaviour contradicted Ijaw cultural norms.

The spat signals growing friction within Bayelsa's political establishment as major parties begin jostling for position in the run-up to the next general election. The APC's defence of Diri, despite him being a PDP governor, reflects the complex cross-party dynamics at play in the state.

Whether the governor himself will publicly address either Turnah's loyalty question or broader party tensions remains unclear from available reports.