Bayelsa PDP chief questions Diri's backing for Tinubu and City Boy Movement; APC disagrees

The Bayelsa State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turnah, says Governor Douye Diri is not really working for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election and questioned the governor's support for the City Boy Movement. The state All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Warman Weri Ogoriba, called the claim baseless, Punch reported on Saturday 31 October.

Turnah spoke to party members at the PDP secretariat in Bayelsa on Friday 30 October, according to Punch. He asked whether Diri had attended the inauguration of the APC presidential campaign council in Abuja or the campaign flag-off in Kaduna, and said there were no billboards or state campaign council for Tinubu in Bayelsa. “We are the ones, the PDP, who are supporting President Bola Tinubu's re-election,” he said.

He also raised questions about the governor's support for the City Boy Movement, which Punch describes as a support group associated with the President's political activities.

Ogoriba, the APC state chairman, rejected the claim. He said Diri's actions and public statements showed he was at the forefront of the President's re-election campaign, and that the governor had supported the City Boy Movement in Bayelsa in different ways, including attending its events, Punch reported.

The movement's Bayelsa chapter also rejected Turnah's comments in a statement by its state director, Osomkime Edwin Blankson, published by NewsWakaNow. It said Turnah is not a member and cannot speak for the chapter, and described Diri, its state patron, as a consistent supporter who attended its inauguration and its State Working Committee retreat.

Punch noted that both sides are stating political positions, and neither offered independent evidence of how far the governor is involved in the re-election campaign. The row comes as parties and support groups line up behind candidates before the January 2027 general elections.

For background on the group, its leaders and earlier news, see the ST Office City Boy Movement page at seyitinubu.com/city-boy-movement.

ST Office is an independent news explainer. It is not affiliated with the City Boy Movement, Seyi Tinubu, the Presidency or any political party.

Pidgin: Bayelsa PDP chairman George Turnah talk say Governor Diri no dey really work for Tinubu 2027 re-election, and e question the governor support for City Boy Movement. APC chairman Ogoriba and the movement Bayelsa chapter don reject am, dem say Diri dey support both.

How this affects you: Nothing changes for voters today. It shows that in Bayelsa, parties are now competing to look like Tinubu's strongest backers, so expect more claims and counter-claims before the January 2027 election. Judge them by what you can see for yourself, not by statements alone.

More on the movement: City Boy Movement: what it is, who leads it and latest news

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