Jonathan’s former aide joins APC, pledges loyalty to Diri

From Amgbare Prince, Yenagoa

The former Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Matters and Social Events to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Hon. Waripamo-owei Dudafa has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State.

Dr. Dudafa, who also previously served as a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, made the announcement in a statement issued to newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

In the letter addressed to the PDP Chairman of Southern Opokuma/Ayibabiri Ward 8 in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, Dudafa expressed gratitude to the PDP for the opportunities it provided him over the past 25 years, including his tenure as a Bayelsa State Assembly member from 2003 to 2007.

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He described his decision to leave the PDP as difficult but necessary to support Governor Douye Diri’s vision for a better Bayelsa State.

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“My decision to join the APC is driven by a commitment to the progress of Bayelsa and Nigeria as a whole,” Dudafa stated, emphasizing his intent to open “a new chapter of service” within the ruling party.

Until his defection, Dudafa was an elected delegate for Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area at the PDP’s upcoming National Convention on November 14, 2025.

He urged his supporters to remain loyal to Governor Diri and the Prosperity Government, expressing confidence that the governor’s decisions align with the best interests of Bayelsans.

The defection marks a significant political shift in Bayelsa, as Dudafa’s alignment with the APC strengthens the party’s presence in the state ahead of future elections.