By Clifford Ndujihe, Anayo Okoli, Dapo Akinrefon & Sam Oyadongha
AHEAD of the deliberate defections of Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, there’s disquiet in each states.
Mbah and Diri, who had been elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Celebration, PDP, have reportedly concluded plans to dump their get together for the APC.
They’re anticipated to take action on October 14
Nevertheless, Vanguard gathered that the defections could also be delayed because of the disaster that erupted in Enugu APC over the weekend.
In readiness for Mbah, the Nationwide Working Committee, NWC, of the APC, final Thursday, dissolved Enugu State Working Committee, SWC, and arrange a caretaker committee, led by Ben Nwoye.
Whereas the Ben Nwoye committee is able to welcome Governor Mbah, the dissolved SWC is kicking, insisting it’s nonetheless in cost.
The management of the PDP in Enugu and Bayelsa have saved sealed lips on the difficulty, regardless of a number of makes an attempt to get their views.
Division in Bayelsa
In Bayelsa, Diri’s deliberate defection to the APC has elicited reactions from stakeholders within the predominantly Ijaw talking state.
Whereas some defended the transfer, saying it will align the state with the APC managed central authorities and as such entice extra federal patronage, others dismissed it as self-serving, questioning the distinction it will make in a state dominated by the PDP within the final 26 years, with the latter on the centre for 16 years.
Although a supply near the Bayelsa seat of presidency confirmed that every one was set for the governor’s defection he, nevertheless, faulted the October 14 date being speculated within the mainstream media and the social media.
The supply, who pleaded anonymity, stated: “Sure, the governor is leaving the PDP however the October 14 date reported within the media is what I can’t assure. He has advised us he’s leaving and as a frontrunner, ours is to comply with him. He’ll personally make his resolution public quickly.”
We’re prepared for Diri — APC
Makes an attempt to get officers of the state PDP executives to talk on the event proved abortive however the state chairman of the APC, Chief Dennis Otiotio, stated: “The APC Bayelsa State chapter is able to welcome any politician that’s ready to help the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and his reelection in 2027.
‘’We imagine the President has executed effectively for the South-South, and all of the governors of the area ought to, due to this fact, rally spherical to help him within the 2027 presidential election. We will likely be completely happy to obtain Senator Douye Diri into the APC, anytime he decides to defect.”
However one other state official of the APC who spoke anonymously, stated: “I can’t react to hypothesis. Now we have not been formally communicated in regards to the stated defection.”
It’s a welcome devt — Ambakederemo
In his response, Ijaw chief and Convener, South South Reawakening Group, Elder Joseph Ambakederimo, stated: “The change of Governor Douye Diri from the PDP to the ruling APC is a welcome growth.
I can recollect vividly my intervention on this matter the place I’ve known as on the governor to contemplate this transfer. If that is occurring now, then he should have listened to clever counsel.
“Our individuals want to grasp that to profit considerably and have our pursuits protected in politics, we should have a seat on the desk the place choices are made. Something much less is illusionary.
‘’This isn’t a time for cautious steps however for brave leaps. The Ijaw individuals have been left behind and within the chilly for too lengthy. We should galvanise ourselves for a larger financial renaissance. To my thoughts, the change to the get together on the centre would broaden federal alternatives for Ijaw little kids past state-level appointments in addition to permit them entry to federal placements and decision-making roles.
‘’Our political forebears didn’t play opposition politics on the early ages of our political journey as they had been all the time aligning with the get together on the centre. Subsequently, I don’t assume it is going to be clever to proceed to be in a celebration that doesn’t have a future, the PDP doesn’t have any future.”
It’s self-serving, says Akene
Furoebi Akene, a growth guide and former Bayelsa Commissioner for Lands and Survey, nevertheless, differed, insisting that the governor’s deliberate transfer was self-serving.
His phrases: “There isn’t any algorithm in Nigerian politics that may carry any hope to the lots in Nigeria. This democracy is the worst within the historical past of Nigeria such that it’s worse than army dictatorship. Politicians on this nation lack conscience, accountability, integrity and imaginative and prescient.
‘’Think about individuals are not ashamed of going again to swallow their vomits. It’s not solely demeaning but additionally disgusting. It’s a clear manifestation that every one Nigerian politicians are trying ahead to the place to be secure.
‘’For me, the defection of Governor Douye Diri isn’t a shock to me, identical to some other defections. Nevertheless, for any individual who’s entrusted with the accountability of chairing the conference planning committee of the forthcoming PDP conference in Ibadan beats my creativeness.
“The phrase ‘belief’ has been faraway from the political lexicon of Nigeria politics way back, which could be very unlucky. A rustic and not using a useful judiciary, the so known as anti-corruption companies are corrupt of their operations and selective, so all need to be there for his or her sins to be forgiven.”
I can’t perceive his purpose — Andaobo
In his submission, Jones Andaobo stated: “I’m nonetheless at a loss why a governor who’s doing tremendously effectively will even ponder becoming a member of a celebration that carried out woefully on the centre.
‘’All I can say is that the lack of the PDP goes to be the achieve of the APC, a celebration, the place the Minister of State for Petroleum Assets (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Chief Timipre Sylva are locked in management wrestle for the soul of the get together.
‘’The presence of Diri will assist stabilise the APC since he’ll routinely assume the management of the get together. As everyone knows, Lokpobiri has an excellent working relationship with the incumbent governor, which is a plus for the minister by way of political alignment and curiosity.”
Sacked Enugu State APC Exco
In Enugu, the dissolved APC SWC, has rejected the sack, saying it was not knowledgeable of any constitutional breach, misconduct or infraction to justify the dissolution.
The dissolved get together management argued that it was duly elected by means of the get together’s congress in accordance with the provisions of the APC Structure (2022 as amended), insisting that the sack was “alien to the APC Structure, a transparent act of impunity, and a direct assault on inner get together democracy.”
In a 12-point assertion, the 40-member Exco stated the get together’s “structure clearly stipulated that solely the NEC, and never the NWC, may institute disciplinary proceedings towards any organ of the get together and that the NEC can’t dissolve any state government committee suo motu with out due course of involving the zonal government committee.”
The assertion learn: “The eye of the Enugu State Govt Committee of the All Progressives Congress has been drawn to an illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional decision purportedly handed by the Nationwide Working Committee, NWC, throughout its 179th assembly held on October 9, 2025, on the Nationwide Secretariat of our nice get together, whereby it allegedly dissolved the duly elected Enugu State Govt Committee and appointed a seven-man caretaker committee, led by Mr. Ben Nwoye.
“We want to state unequivocally that the Enugu State Govt Committee of the APC was duly elected by means of the get together congress, in accordance with the provisions of the APC Structure (2022 as amended). ’Enugu State chapter of the APC was by no means knowledgeable of any constitutional breach, misconduct or infraction that might justify the purported resolution of the NWC to dissolve the State Govt Committee.
“In accordance with Articles 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, and particularly, Article 21.3(VI)(D) of the APC Structure (2022 as amended), the Zonal Govt Committee (South-East) is the organ constitutionally empowered to first intervene in issues requiring disciplinary motion involving state organs below its zone and to make suggestions to the Nationwide Govt Committee, NEC, for additional motion.
‘’The structure clearly stipulates, “The NEC can’t dissolve any state government committee suo motu with out due course of involving the zonal government committee. The purported dissolution by the NWC due to this fact quantities to a gross overreach, and is illegal, unconstitutional, and void ab initio, particularly because the Enugu State Govt Committee has neither disobeyed any directive nor engaged in any act of indiscipline.
“The purported dissolution of the APC Enugu State Govt Committee is alien to the APC Structure, a transparent act of impunity, and a direct assault on inner get together democracy. This unlawful motion will likely be resisted by the whole state, native authorities, and ward buildings of the get together.
“Each organised political entity is ruled by its structure, and the APC, being the ruling get together of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, can’t afford to descend into arbitrary rule harking back to the nation’s undemocratic previous.
“All individuals listed as members of the purported caretaker committee, just one is a registered member of the APC. The remainder had been constitutionally suspended for varied acts of anti-party actions by their respective wards, native governments, and state organs of the get together, and such suspensions had been duly ratified by the South-East Zonal Govt Committee. Not one of the suspended people has appealed their suspension. On document, these people had been captured in print, digital, and social media platforms brazenly campaigning towards the APC through the 2023 normal elections.
“We, due to this fact, completely reject this try and reward disloyalty, the place identified anti-party components are being rehabilitated by means of unlawful means by these entrusted with safeguarding the structure of our get together. Mr. Ben Nwoye, named as chairman of the purported caretaker committee, isn’t a member of the APC. On April 17, 2025, he publicly resigned from the get together, an motion broadly reported throughout print, digital, and on-line media. Appointing a non-member as chairman of a caretaker committee isn’t solely an act of political absurdity however a deliberate subversion of the structure. The NWC, by this singular motion, has compounded illegality with illegality.
“The APC Enugu State Govt Committee hereby outrightly rejects the decision of the NWC assembly of October 9, 2025, because it flagrantly contravenes the structure of our nice get together and undermines the ideas of equity, fairness, and due course of. We due to this fact direct all organs of the APC in Enugu State, ward, native authorities, zonal, and state, to stay of their places of work as duly elected officers and to proceed discharging their constitutional tasks. We urge our members to stay calm, law-abiding, and resolute as we take acceptable constitutional steps to problem this unlawful directive,” the assertion stated.
Defections’re shameless, shambolic — Bode George
Reacting to the doable defection of Diri and Mbah, a former Deputy Nationwide Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George, described their resolution as shameless and shambolic.
Requested whether or not he believes the governors and different PDP leaders had been being blackmailed and/or intimidated into becoming a member of the APC, George advised Vanguard: “I don’t know if they’re being blackmailed however that shouldn’t be a difficulty. Why are they afraid? You have to be a public servant. They need to contemplate the individuals who voted for them. If they’ve executed one thing within the secret, there is no such thing as a means their secret is not going to be uncovered. They shouldn’t be afraid of that.”
On the potential of Nigeria turning right into a one get together state with the defections, he stated: “That would be the the best failure of this nation. All of us can’t be in the identical boat. If their (APC) authorities was performing, I don’t assume Nigerians will complain. It’s despicable.
‘’There may be starvation and anger within the land and a few governors are leaping ship to the APC. Like we are saying within the Navy, in case you are leaping ship, you have to make sure the rope tied round your waist is tight and good.
For what these governors did, it’s annoying, disgusting, disgraceful and destabilising.
‘’Did they return to the individuals who gave them their mandate to inform them of their intention? The individuals gave them their mandate as a result of they believed in the middle of the get together. It’s shameless and shambolic.
‘’They have to inform us what attracted them to the APC. They can’t flip Nigeria right into a one get together state. It’s not doable. The APC doesn’t do what we do within the PDP however they (APC) will likely be shocked what Nigerians will do to them in 2027.”
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