Bayelsa State APC Crisis Deepens As Lokpobiri Orchestrates Surprise Diri-Wike Reconciliation, Fueling PDP Alliance Speculation
ASABA/Nigeria: In a startling turn of events, the persisting turmoil within the Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) shows no sign of abating, as recent reports suggest that Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), has masterminded an unexpected reconciliation between Senator Douye Diri, the incumbent Governor of the state, and his long-time adversary, Mr. Nyensom Wike, who serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This development has raised alarms and suspicions that a faction within the APC may be forming an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in anticipation of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election scheduled for November 2023.
The faction, self-identified as the “Concerned APC Stakeholders (CAPCS),” has revealed that Senator Lokpobiri played a pivotal role in mediating the deep-seated feud between Diri and Wike, stemming from the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to CAPCS, Lokpobiri, leveraging his close ties with the former Governor of Rivers State, successfully persuaded Wike to forgive Governor Diri for not supporting him during the PDP’s intra-party elections. This internal contest eventually culminated in the selection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the PDP’s presidential flagbearer for the 2023 election.
CAPCS claims that Lokpobiri’s intervention and reconciliation of these feuding politicians are part of his strategy to amass support for the re-election of Governor Diri in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election. Their actions are being viewed as an attempt to ensure that the APC’s candidate does not emerge victorious in the poll.
Wike’s discontent was initially sparked when Diri abandoned him and pledged support to Atiku Abubakar during the presidential primaries, despite substantial financial assistance provided by Wike to Bayelsa State delegates through Diri. CAPCS contends that Wike, although not entirely pleased with Diri’s actions, initially intended to back the APC candidate, Chief Timpreye Sylva, before eventually reconciling with the incumbent governor due to the influence of the Minister of Petroleum.
“In pursuit of his agenda to obstruct the election of Timpreye Sylva, Senator Lokpobiri has orchestrated the reconciliation between former Governor Wike and Douye Diri,” CAPCS stated. Wike’s sway in Bayelsa State is primarily attributed to his association with Lokpobiri, making his financial backing a valuable asset for any side he endorses in the election.
Prominent leaders within the APC who have expressed grievances are rumored to be holding secretive meetings with Diri and the PDP leadership to undermine their own party’s prospects in the election. Eminent figures like Senator Lokpobiri, David Lyon, and various current and former members of state and national assemblies, especially those from Timpreye Sylva’s constituency, are suspected of collaborating with the PDP to secure a victory for Douye Diri on November 11.
CAPCS stressed that the genuine commitment of these individuals to the party and their political worth will become apparent with the election results in their respective regions. They have also called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to reprimand members and party leaders in Bayelsa, imploring the party’s leadership to ensure Chief Timpreye Sylva’s triumph in the forthcoming election.
