Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has clarified that he will not mount pressure on his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join the All Progressives Congress after his own recent defection.
The governor made the comment during Wednesday’s State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Yenagoa, where Ewhrudjakpo was also in attendance.
Diri stressed that his style of leadership is rooted in dialogue and mutual respect, noting that political alignment must come by personal conviction rather than compulsion. He acknowledged that the situation of a governor and deputy belonging to different parties is unusual but maintained that their internal engagements have remained calm and constructive.
He further confirmed that his deputy had withdrawn a suit he filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to block an alleged impeachment process.
According to him, the priority of his administration is stability, peace and development across Bayelsa, regardless of political differences.
“I will not compel anyone to join the APC,” he said. “It’s better to persuade people with understanding. Power is temporary, and what matters is harmony and progress. Though it may seem difficult for a governor and deputy to belong to different parties, we will keep engaging, and perhaps we may end up in the same camp.”
Diri added that the state has “moved beyond violence”, urging residents to embrace unity and focus on collective growth.
