Six local government chairmen in Bayelsa have announced their support for Governor Douye Diri following his decision to exit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
On Wednesday, the Bayelsa governor confirmed his departure from the opposition party, stating he left for “very obvious reasons”.
Diri also disclosed that members of his cabinet and the state house of assembly resigned from the PDP alongside him.
Shortly after, the chairmen, under the umbrella of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), declared their resignation from the PDP during a press briefing held at the association’s secretariat in Yenagoa.
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Lelei Tariye Isaac, chairman of Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, who addressed the media on behalf of the group, said their decision was driven by the escalating internal crisis within the PDP.
“We are indeed grateful for the opportunity to serve the people for the past one and a half years,” he said.
“We were elected on the platform of the PDP, and today, we are aware that our leader, Governor Douye Diri, has formally resigned his membership of the party.
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“As chairmen, vice chairmen, councillors and appointees in the local government areas, we support the decision of our governor.
“We stand with him and, consequently, we also resign our membership of the PDP.”
Isaac further expressed appreciation to Bayelsa residents for their continued support of the Diri-led administration.
Those present at the briefing included David Alagoa, chairman of Nembe LGA; Target Isaiah Segibo, chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA; and Bulodisiye Ndiwari, chairman of Yenagoa LGA.
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Others were Isaac Onniye of Ekeremor LGA and Golden Jeremiah of Ogbia LGA.
However, Alice Allen Tangi of Sagbama LGA and Lucky Febo of Brass LGA were not in attendance.
Bayelsa state comprises eight local government areas.