Allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, under the political platform of the NEW Associates, have slammed Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri for sacking 27 political appointees allegedly over their affiliation with the group and support for President Bola Tinubu.
The dismissals, which affected special assistants, senior special assistants, and grassroots mobilisers, were reportedly linked to the appointees’ participation in a solidarity rally in honour of President Tinubu and Minister Wike. The NEW Associates, which has roots in the South-South and Southeast geopolitical zones, is considered a formidable grassroots political structure associated with Wike’s rising national influence.
Governor Diri, however, had earlier cautioned political appointees to refrain from engaging in premature political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections. During a recent public address, he stressed that any political appointee who flouted this directive would face dismissal.
“I advise all of us to refrain from politicking and wait for INEC’s guidelines, particularly for political appointees. If you want to heat up the polity, please resign. Going forward, any political appointee that goes on air to talk about 2027 politics will be sacked,” Diri warned.
True to his word, the governor followed up with an official letter dated April 23, signed by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Irorodiame Komonibo, terminating the appointments of 27 individuals. However, the decision has triggered a storm of criticism, particularly from members of Wike’s camp and the caretaker leadership of the Bayelsa chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a strongly worded statement, PDP Publicity Secretary Derri Alasuote Wright condemned the governor’s actions as “undemocratic, intolerant, and politically motivated.” According to Wright, the sacked appointees were long-serving, loyal party members who played key roles in securing electoral victory for Diri in the last gubernatorial election.
“The sacked aides committed no known offence other than identifying with the NEW Associates political group,” Wright said. “This unjust action is an alarming demonstration of intolerance and high-handedness that undermines the democratic values we hold dear.”
He further argued that the move was a betrayal of grassroots stakeholders who had given their time and resources to the PDP, noting that the governor’s actions signal a troubling shift toward autocracy within the party.
“Neither the government nor the treasury of Bayelsa State belongs personally to Governor Diri,” Wright stressed. “The dismissal sends a dangerous message that discourages civic engagement and punishes political loyalty that doesn’t orbit directly around the governor.”
Political observers view the development as a fresh flashpoint in the growing tensions between loyalists of Governor Diri and those aligned with Wike, who has continued to wield significant political influence in the Niger Delta region despite leaving the PDP for an alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national level.
Analysts suggest that the incident could foreshadow deeper fissures in Bayelsa’s PDP as political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum. The sacking of the appointees also reflects ongoing struggles within state structures over political loyalty, ideological allegiance, and future ambitions.
Wright concluded by calling on Governor Diri to reconsider his decision and reinstate the dismissed aides in the interest of party unity, inclusive governance, and respect for constitutional rights.
“We urge all stakeholders, political leaders, and citizens to join us in advocating for a more tolerant and inclusive political culture that honours the contributions of all,” he said.