In a significant political move, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has formally thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubu's campaign for a second term in office. The endorsement was secured during a major stakeholders' meeting convened by the state's Governor, Douye Diri.
A Unified Front for 2027
The special gathering, held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, marked a pivotal moment for the party in the state. This was the first expanded meeting Governor Diri called since he defected to the APC and assumed its leadership in Bayelsa in October 2025.
The motion to endorse President Tinubu was officially moved by the Senator representing Bayelsa Central, Dr. Konbowei Benson. It received immediate backing from a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and ex-Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, who seconded the motion. The event showcased a formidable lineup of the party's who's who in the Niger Delta region.
Key Players and a Call for Unity
The hall was filled with prominent figures, including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in the state, Dr. Dennis Otiotio; and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Sam Ogbuku. Also present were Senator Benson Agadaga (Bayelsa East), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, and APC National Working Committee member, Hon. Godbless Diriware.
Addressing the assembly, Governor Diri expressed his satisfaction with the party's resolve to operate as one cohesive family with the primary goal of securing victory for President Tinubu. He urged members to embrace forgiveness and humility, setting aside past grievances for the progress of Bayelsa State.
"Political parties are vehicles for development. Let us truly be progressives," Diri stated. He advised those with ambitions for various offices in 2027 to temporarily shelve them, emphasizing that the collective focus should be on the President's re-election. "Power comes from God. What should be uppermost is that we are all gathered here to make sure that President Tinubu returns for a second term," he added.
Praise for Leadership and Party Mobilization
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri hailed the newfound unity, stating the Bayelsa APC now has a single, indivisible objective to win all elective positions in the 2027 polls. Other leaders, including former APC governorship candidate Chief David Lyon and House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, commended Governor Diri's mature and inclusive leadership style.
Dr. Dennis Otiotio, the APC Caretaker Chairman, praised the Governor for successfully uniting factions that had been divided for over a decade. He clarified that part of the meeting's agenda was to mobilize members for the party's ongoing electronic membership registration drive.
The meeting began on a solemn note as a minute of silence was observed in honour of former Senator John Brambaifa, who represented Bayelsa West and passed away in Abuja on January 3, 2026.
