Dickson accuses Diri of handing Bayelsa to APC, warns of 2027 payback

Former Bayelsa State governor Seriake Dickson has accused his successor, Governor Douye Diri, of handing the state over to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and warned that the move will cost him politically in 2027.

Dickson spoke at his community, Toru-Orua, during a political visit that also featured Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and the party's campaign council director-general, Mallam Ibrahim Abdulkarim.

According to Dickson, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave Diri its ticket and backed him to win the governorship twice, yet the governor has now aligned with the APC. He described that as anti-party conduct and a betrayal of the political family that made him governor.

You have surrendered Bayelsa to APC. You have sold Bayelsa to APC and you will pay for it in 2027.

He insisted that Bayelsa remains PDP territory and that the state cannot be traded away because of anyone's second-term ambition. He said he and other founding PDP leaders, including loyalists of former President Goodluck Jonathan, would work to win the state back in 2027.

In a separate statement, Dickson said everyone serving in the current government was groomed and supported by him over the years. He listed Diri's earlier roles, including Executive Secretary, Deputy Chief of Staff, member of the House of Representatives and Senator, before he became governor.

He said he backed Diri to keep Ijaw political leadership intact and to ensure fairness across Bayelsa's local government areas, but now feels the administration has turned on its own supporters.

Dickson also faulted the Federal Government over what he called poor infrastructure and weak representation of Bayelsa and the Niger Delta in federal appointments. He urged his supporters to stay peaceful and avoid personal attacks on the governor, saying Diri remains his brother even though they now disagree.

No response from Diri

An aide to Governor Diri, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the governor will not reply to Dickson. The aide said everyone is free to speak, but the government is focused on delivering for Bayelsans and will let the people judge.

Miriki Ebikibina, Technical Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, called Dickson's remarks unfortunate and urged him to show the restraint expected of a former governor and serving senator. He recalled the support Dickson received from former President Jonathan, including appointments as commissioner and Attorney-General, and roles in his emergence as PDP candidate and governor.

Ebikibina said political disagreements should not crowd out discussion of issues, and pointed to the Diri administration's record as proof of purposeful leadership.

What happens next

The quarrel has split the Bayelsa PDP into camps loyal to Dickson and Diri, with attention on who controls the party structure ahead of 2027. Dickson's NDC is also building its presence in the state, with Obi using the Yenagoa visit to campaign.