Facts have emerged on why the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, delayed his defection to the All Progressives Congress two weeks after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party.

A senior official of the APC at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja confided in Saturday PUNCH that Diri had requested the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to hand over the party’s flag to him in a formal reception.

According to the APC official, the arrangement for the official reception delayed the governor’s defection.

Diri had, on October 15, announced his exit from the PDP during an expanded State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa.

The governor said the decision followed “extensive consultations” with key stakeholders in the state, adding, “I am not resigning alone. 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.”

According to the APC official, who is involved in the party’s plan to receive Diri, the party is done with the arrangements to welcome the governor.

He said, “Governor Diri is coming to the APC, and he will join us on Monday. The party has put up a reception plan, and it is the wish of the governor that the Vice President hands over the APC flag to him. The national secretariat and the VP’s office have worked that out.

“The governor wants an official and befitting reception, and he deserves it. That is why he delayed his defection. But we are done with the arrangements.”

Similarly, one of the senior administrative officers at the APC secretariat in Abuja disclosed that arrangements were in place to receive the governor into the party on Monday.

“I am aware that the secretariat is preparing to receive Governor Diri on Monday. The governor wants an official reception, and we are working on it. As I am speaking with you, nothing will change the governor’s plan to join the APC,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP has insisted that its leadership would not join the governor in defecting to the APC.

The State Publicity Secretary, Ebiye Ogoli, while speaking with Sunday PUNCH, said there was no reason to leave the PDP with Diri, stating that the party’s leadership remained strong.

Ogoli explained that the leadership decided not to defect with the governor because he is in his second term and will not be contesting again; hence, there was no reason to move with him.

“We are not defecting with the governor. We stand by our last statement. The governor did not compel anyone to move with him. Before we took the decision, we considered the fact that the governor is not contesting again and, therefore, there was no reason to move with him.

“The party remains strong. It is not true that we want to defect with him.”

Findings by Sunday PUNCH also revealed that three members of the State House of Assembly — Godbless Oyinke, Ted Elemeforo, and Wisdom Fafi — have refused to leave the PDP.

This is as the Deputy Governor of the state, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has dragged the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, Abraham Ingobere; the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Matilda Ayemieye; the Bayelsa State Attorney-General, Biriyai Dambo (SAN), the Inspector-General of Police; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services before a Federal High Court in Abuja to avert a reported impeachment plot.

Ewhrudjakpo, who has remained in the PDP, said there was a plot by the lawmakers to impeach him because he did not resign his membership of the party with the governor.

The deputy governor, in an originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, according to TheCable, sought interim orders of the court to restrain the State House of Assembly from removing or impeaching him in violation of Sections 188(5)–(9), (11), and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), on the grounds of his refusal to defect from the PDP to the APC or any other political party before the end of his tenure.

Ewhrudjakpo also asked the court to restrain the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Bayelsa State Attorney-General from withdrawing his security protection as deputy governor, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The Peoples Democratic Party has summoned an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee following Friday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja halting its planned national convention billed for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

A member of the NWC, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said the meeting would hold on Saturday at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

“That’s the judgment. However, I know that the NWC has summoned an emergency meeting tomorrow. The leaders will review what transpired throughout the process and determine the next line of action,” the official said.

“The party is set for a very serious deliberation, which will shape its next steps and provide members and Nigerians a clearer sense of direction in the coming days.”

The emergency session comes after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, stopped the opposition party from holding the convention over alleged violations of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the party’s own internal constitution.

Delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, the judge held that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses in several states and also breached the law by failing to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before convening the convention.

Omotosho ruled that the irregularities were fundamental and rendered the entire process leading to the proposed convention invalid.

“The failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy. The party must do the needful before going ahead with the election,” he declared.

He further ruled that all convention notices must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary, adding that the signing of such documents by the chairman alone was unlawful.

The judge consequently restrained INEC from monitoring, recognising, or publishing the outcome of any PDP convention that did not meet the legal requirements.

“INEC is not entitled to give effect to the outcome of any political party convention that does not comply with the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and relevant party guidelines,” Omotosho said.

The suit was filed by three aggrieved PDP members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (South-South Zonal Secretary).

They asked the court to halt the planned convention on the grounds that it violated both the Electoral Act and the PDP’s internal rules.

They alleged that no valid congresses were conducted in at least 14 states before the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee issued notice for the convention.

The nine defendants in the suit include INEC, the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the NWC, the NEC, Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.

In rejecting the PDP’s preliminary objection that the case was an internal affair, Justice Omotosho ruled that compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines transcends party matters.

“Non-compliance with the rules and regulations of INEC and political parties cannot be regarded as an internal affair of a political party. INEC has the power to issue subsidiary legislation for the conduct of political parties, and such subsidiary legislation has the force of law,” he said.

The verdict sparked mixed reactions in the courtroom, which was filled to capacity by lawyers, journalists, and party members. Despite the hum of a heavy-duty air conditioner, the atmosphere turned hot and tense as the judge read his ruling.

As soon as the judgment was delivered, the plaintiffs’ supporters broke into songs and dances, while the PDP delegation filed out in silence, their faces grim.

Damagum: Judgment a threat to democracy

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, the PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum condemned the ruling as a setback for democracy vowing that the party would appeal immediately.

“This is not what we expected. We will appeal it. You cannot stop a whole political party from exercising its legal rights. This judgment today is a panacea to annihilating democracy in this country,” he said.

In a statement later on Friday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba described the judgment as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process but insisted that the ruling would not derail the party’s plans.

“The judgment does not vitiate our ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards electing new national officers. Our lawyers have been directed to appeal immediately,” Ologunagba stated.

He urged all members and party organs to stay focused on preparations for the convention, promising that the PDP would defend its rights within the bounds of the law.

“The PDP charges its members, chapters, and organs to remain steadfast and focused on preparations for the National Convention. We are committed to upholding and promoting multiparty democracy in Nigeria,” he added.

Second suit by Lamido

In a separate development, another suit seeking to stop the same convention was filed by former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Lamido, through his counsel Jeph Njikonye (SAN), had sought interim orders restraining the PDP and INEC from going ahead with the convention pending the hearing of his main motion.

However, Justice Lifu declined to grant the ex parte motion, instead directing the defendants to appear within 72 hours to show cause why the reliefs sought should not be granted.

The case was adjourned to November 6 for hearing.

Lamido, a founding member of the PDP and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in his filing that the party’s leadership was violating its constitution and denying him the right to contest for the position of National Chairman.

He argued that the court had an obligation to preserve the subject matter of the suit until a substantive hearing.

Party leaders preach calm

Following the rulings, senior PDP officials called for calm and unity, describing the judgment as both a challenge and an opportunity for introspection.

The Deputy National Youth Leader and NEC member, Timothy Osadolor, said the decision offered the party a chance to address long-standing grievances and rebuild internal cohesion.

“It may not be the best of judgments, but it’s an opportunity to put our house in order. We’re depleted enough already and should stop entertaining divisions. We need to reflect and come out stronger,” Osadolor said.

Another NEC member, who also serves on the National Working Committee but was not authorised to speak publicly, described the court’s decision as a “wake-up call” for reform.

“This is not the end of the PDP; it is the beginning of a reformed PDP. We must regroup, reconcile, and prepare for the challenges ahead,” the official told Saturday PUNCH.

He added that the leadership would soon convene a meeting of key stakeholders across the country to evaluate the party’s next steps and consider an appeal.

Despite the court battles, deep divisions persist within the party, particularly between allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and supporters of the acting chairman.

The disagreements centre on the control of party structures in the South-South, the zoning of national offices, and the micro-zoning formula ahead of the planned convention.

These long-standing disputes, which began after the 2023 general elections, have continued to undermine efforts to stabilise the opposition party.

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