In a major political shift, the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has officially backed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential contest under the umbrella of the National Rainbow Coalition.
The formal endorsement was ratified in Yenagoa during a joint session of the party’s expanded State Caucus and the 100th State Executive Committee.
As part of the resolutions, the executive committee passed an explicit vote of confidence in Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, hailing his role as national leader in preserving the PDP’s political structure.
State PDP Chairman and coalition coordinator, George Turnah commended Wike for keeping the party afloat despite internal division.
“As a political party, we thank God that He has preserved the party at the state and national level.
“Especially when some who grew through this party chose to bury it, God used our national leader, Chief Nyesom Wike, to rescue and restore the party. We shall be eternally grateful to him”, Turnah stated.
Beyond party politics, Turnah launched an intense assault on Governor Douye Diri’s administration, calling out severe economic stagnation, abandoned health infrastructure, and shortage of medical personnel at primary health facilities. He also accused state officials of routinely violating financial transparency laws by concealing final project costs.
Focusing heavily on legislative accountability and government spending, Turnah questioned unbudgeted anniversary expenditures and called out the state assembly:
“The Bayelsa State Government owes residents an explanation on the actual amount spent for the 30th anniversary, as it was not captured in the state appropriation bill.
“Spending outside the budget constitutes an impeachable offense in a functional democracy. By condoning this waste, the State House of Assembly has proven to be a rubber stamp”, Turnah charged.
“We demand that the Diri administration publish, in naira and kobo, the exact expenditure for the anniversary.
“Until that is done, the administration owes Bayelsans a public apology for wasting scarce resources”, he added.
Turnah further highlighted the decline of local agriculture, noting that fish farm investments from former Governor Seriake Dickson’s tenure have been left to rot while local farmers lack basic state backing.
He urged the state government to abandon costly stadium projects and focus resources directly on job creation, poverty alleviation, and basic social infrastructure.
