Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has said he will not compel his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to defect with him to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Diri, who officially joined the APC on November 3 after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15, stated this during a State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.
Addressing council members — with his deputy in attendance — Diri said he believes in dialogue over confrontation and prefers to persuade rather than impose his political choices.
“Let me address an issue that has been a subject of speculation in the media. I do not intend to force people to join the APC but rather appeal to them to see reason with me. I might have the power today, but not tomorrow,” the governor said.
He admitted that operating from different political parties posed challenges but disclosed that discussions with Ewhrudjakpo were yielding “positive results.”
According to Diri, the court case earlier filed by his deputy at the Federal High Court in Abuja — seeking to stop an alleged impeachment plot over his refusal to join the APC — has been withdrawn following their recent talks.
“It is actually difficult for the governor to be on one side and the deputy on another. But we will continue to talk, and we might end up at the same party tomorrow,” Diri added.
The governor urged Bayelsans to embrace peace and unity, emphasizing that politics should be a tool for development, not division.
“We must not heat up the polity. We are done with violence in Bayelsa State. We are brothers and we are one. Politics should be for the development of the state and not to fight one another,” he said.
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