South-South Now For Tinubu In 2027, Akpabio Boasts At Diri’s Defection Rally

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said on Monday that with the defection of Governor Douye Diri to the ruling All Progressives Party(APC), the entire South-South geopolitical region is now for President Bola Tinubu come 2027.

Speaking at the rally to formally welcome Governor Diri to the party, Akpabio lauded the Governor for taking the “bold decision” to decamp from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to APC.

The Senate President said: “You are today taking the bold decision to join Nigeria and this Bayelsa state to light, and this Bayelsa state to hope.”

The reception rally took place at the Samson Siasia Sports Stadium, Yenagoa.In attendance were the Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and his team in the National Working Committee and some APC Governors.

Diri, who was elected two-time governor on the platform of the PDP, announced his resignation from the party last month along his aides, cabinet members, federal lawmakers, and 21 of the 24-member state House of Assembly.

Governor Diri told the crowd that the defection was “not Bayelsa defection” but that of the entire Ijaw nation that spread across several states in the country.

He stated, “We tried all we could to save the PDP but to no avail. Undertakers were very busy burying the PDP.

“After seeing that the undertakers wanted to bury the PDP, I never wanted my state to be buried alongside with PDP.

“So, knowing what was going on, after all my consultations with all the leaders, it was incumbent on me as governor to make a decision.

“This defection is not a Bayelsa defection. It is the Ijaw nation defecting to APC,” Diri declared.

The Governor also disclosed how President Bola Tinubu had assisted the state in times of critical needs.

The APC Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda thanked the people of Bayelsa state for making a U-Turn in the right direction.