“I’ll work with stakeholders to ensure APC gets 99% of votes in Bayelsa” — Douye Diri

Bayelsa governor Douye Diri has vowed to work with party leaders and stakeholders to secure 99 percent of the votes in the state for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2027 general election.

Diri made the declaration in Yenagoa on Monday during his official defection to the ruling party. The event was attended by APC national chairman Rufus Yilwatda and Vice President Kashim Shettima, who raised Diri’s hands in solidarity before a cheering crowd.

“I am not a bossy type. I have come to unite us so that we can work together and produce a 99 percent result in Bayelsa come 2027. I don’t know the opposition from the other side,” the governor said.

He praised the federal government for what he described as its genuine concern for the people of Bayelsa, adding that aligning with its vision would bring greater development to the state. Diri dismissed claims of divisions within the party, noting that his defection had been warmly received by APC members across Bayelsa.

“Since I announced my coming, I have been accepted by the whole of the APC family in Bayelsa. So I want to thank the APC that has come to me in Bayelsa,” he stated.

Diri said his move from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was guided by the encouragement and direction of the APC-led administration, which he credited for showing affection toward the Ijaw people.

Presenting himself as a bridge-builder, Diri emphasized that his goal in the APC is to promote unity and strengthen solidarity among members ahead of the next election.