Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said he will not compel his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join him in the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he officially joined on November 3.

Diri, who resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15, stated during the weekly state executive council meeting in Yenagoa on Wednesday that while it was politically awkward for the governor and deputy to belong to different parties, he would rather engage than confront.

“It’s difficult for the governor to be on one side and the deputy on another, but we will continue to talk. We might end up in the same party tomorrow,” he said.

He revealed that Ewhrudjakpo had discontinued his court case against an alleged impeachment plot after both men held discussions.

Diri expressed gratitude to Bayelsans for the massive turnout at his thanksgiving and defection events, pledging loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

“I do not intend to force anyone to join the APC,” he said. “Politics should be about development, not fighting one another. We must not heat up the polity — we’re done with violence in Bayelsa.”

He also dismissed rumours of armed men entering the state, assuring residents that Bayelsa remains one of the safest states in Nigeria.

At the meeting, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, presented an award recognizing Bayelsa as the Best State in Health Insurance Service Delivery by the Nigeria Governors Forum. Commissioner for Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali, also presented the Distinguished Governor Award for Support to SWAN and Sports Development in Nigeria.